The Philippine government has initiated a decisive new phase in its campaign to ensure that barangays recently cleared of New People's Army (NPA) influence remain permanently free from the communist rebels' control.
A National Resolve for Irreversible Peace
In a statement released on Wednesday, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) declared this move is critical for solidifying hard-won peace. The task force emphasized that this step ensures communities once living in fear can now irreversibly progress toward stability, governance, and development. "This new phase signals a clear national resolve: no liberated barangay will fall back into fear. No hard-won peace will be surrendered," the NTF-ELCAC stated.
Approval of Synchronized Operational Plans
This strategic shift is now formally part of the Joint Regional Task Force (JRTF) Operational Plans. National Security Adviser and NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairman Eduardo Año approved these plans during the task force's Inter-Regional and Inter-Cluster Summit. The summit was held in Quezon City on November 27 and 28.
The NTF-ELCAC explained that Año's approval does two key things: it confirms the plans are aligned with the country's national peace and development priorities, and it authorizes their synchronized implementation across all regions.
A Call for Integrity and Accountability in Implementation
During the summit, NTF-ELCAC executive director, Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., directly challenged the participants. These leaders, heading all JRTFs and National Clusters, were urged to base their execution of the plans on core principles.
"Treat these plans not as mere documents, but as our shared pledge to the Filipino people," Torres told the assembly. He called on them to be honest in their assessments, bold in their ideas, firm in their accountability, and united in their commitment. Torres encapsulated the mission with the phrase: "Build Peace Better."
The government's latest action marks a transition from clearing areas of insurgent presence to actively insulating them, aiming to create a lasting environment where development can finally take root without the threat of conflict returning.
