IP tops NPA-CPP recruitment in ZamPen

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga Del Sur, Sep 27 (PIA) – Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC)-9 Chairman and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)-9 Regional Director Ariel Perlado believed that Indigenous People (IPs) is a vulnerable sector that tops the recruitment of New People’s Army – Communist Party of the Philippines (NPA-CPP) in the region.

During the Inter-Agency Visitation to the Subanen Cultural Communities/Indigenous People in Zamboanga Peninsula, RTF-ELCAC line government agencies assured to continuously advocate empowerment to the IP communities. Empowering these IP communities would serve very vital to the campaign of NTF-70 since, most affected individuals that have become victims of wrong ideologies of communists are reportedly from their communities.

“More than 95 percent na mga nare-recruit ng mga NPA ay galing sa hanay ng mga IP" (More 95% of the IP communities are being recruited by the NPA),” revealed by RTF Chairman Perlado.

Director Perlado was thankful to the Executive Director of the National Task Force – ELCAC, Sec. Allen A. Capuyan for personally visiting the Subanen tribe in the entire region and took time to listen to the issues and concerns raised by the IP leaders or “Timuay” pertaining to their ancestral domains and human rights, as well as to counteract terrorism.

Layon ng pag-iikot ni Sec.Capuyan sa IP communities ay pagbibigay ng kaalaman sa mga IPs ukol sa kanilang mga karapatan upang hindi sila maloloko, mapag-initan at malilinlang ng teroristang NPA." (The purpose of Sec. Capuyan's visit to the IP communities is to inform the IPs of their rights so that they will not be fooled and deceived by the terrorist NPA).

Meanwhile, the government line agencies continue to work on engaging the grassroots by introducing the NTF-70 campaign in the IP communities to proactively end terrorism as well as to let them know of the government programs they could avail rightfully avail under Republic Act 8371, known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.

“In a matter of less than 2 years, through the whole-of-nation approach, we are persistently responding to the livelihood, education, ancestral domain claims, barangay isolation among other concerns of the IPs,” Perlado added.

Also, the Director described the campaign on NTF-70 as good governance presented by Sec. Capuyan. it is a breakthrough and a very good development in Zamboanga Peninsula and this momentum should be sustained to end insurgency in the region. (RVC/JRA/PIA-Zamboanga City)

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https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1054378
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