The Philippine Army in the province proclaimed its all-out support for the incoming Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), President-Elect Rodrigo Duterte, and his initiatives, including his move to appoint communist leaders to key government posts.
Lieutenant Col. Jose Dodjie Belloga, battalion commander of the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army acknowledged Duterte’s move, noting that it would greatly help in the peace process between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
The plan is also seen by the entire military as a measure to eradicate insurgency in the country.
The AFP is optimistic that it would help put an end to the armed struggle between the government and communist rebels and lead to the use of peaceful means of negotiation instead.
Belloga told DYRD Balita that it is possible for the decades-long conflict to finally be resolved under the Duterte administration.
He added that outside of the province, insurgency remains a problem even as several presidents who dealt with the rebels in varied ways have been put in office.
The incoming Duterte administration has offered communist leaders posts in the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) led by Jose Maria Sison who is also the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front has since welcomed Duterte’s offers.
The CPP has already started to prepare a list of nominees who will be considered to man key posts in the Duterte administration. (with reports from Rey Tutas)