CAMPAIGN VS. ARMED CONFLICT. Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB), says three towns in Iloilo will be the next focus of the campaign in ending local communist armed conflict, during an interview on Thursday (Dec. 12, 2019). Batara said efforts of the local chief executives of the three towns against insurgency are seen especially in the construction of road networks. (Photo courtesy of Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion)
ILOILO CITY -- The 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) of the Philippine Army said three Iloilo towns will be the next focus of ending the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC)
These are the towns of Miagao, San Joaquin, and Igbaras, all from the first district of the province, said Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara, 61st IB commander, in an interview on Thursday.
The first batch identified as ELCAC areas were the towns of Alimodian, Calinog, Janiuay, Maasin, Lambunao, and Tubungan.
The six towns have all complied with their commitment to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Iloilo to create their respective Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) by end of November.
“It is already programmed on which areas to follow, and these are the towns of Miagao, San Joaquin, and Igbaras. In time, it will be the whole of Iloilo because we already have a task force that is focused against communists,” Batara said.
The Army commander said skirmishes and encounters transpired in the towns of Igbaras and Miagao in the past months.
He said former rebels revealed that these towns were also subject to the recruitment and other activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
“The affectation on insurgency in these towns is really observed because there are still some who believe that armed rebellion is the solution to the problem,” he said.
Like the towns of Alimodian, Calinog, Janiuay, Maasin, Lambunao, and Tubungan, the next three towns are also expected to organize their MTF-ELCAC.
Batara said the efforts of the local chief executives of the three towns against insurgency are already seen especially in its construction of road networks.
“These towns have the construction of roads. They really have a goal to end insurgency. The communist rebels do not like road networks because they can be more accessible to military troops. For us, we know roads are for development because, in due time, the delivery of services will be faster,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the six towns currently hold orientation sessions of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) or the frontline program in village immersions in bringing the basic services of the government to the public.
“All of them pledged that their MTF-ELCAC will be activated this year,” he said, noting that the Philippine Army is monitoring the activities of the task force. (PNA)
