Communist rebels’ criminal activities must be stopped - PGMA

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan -- “The ideological nonsense and criminal activities of the Communist rebels must be stopped permanently to catapult the Philippines to a modernized country by 2020,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today.

At the closing of the two-day Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) held at the Roma Hotel here, the President received a resolution from the multi-sectoral stakeholders in Region II urging concerned agencies of the national and local governments to hasten the implementation of all measures needed “to strengthen and defend our region against all forms of aggression.”

In her speech, the President stressed the need to end Communist atrocities and other human rights abuses that impede the progress and development of a number of rural areas.

“If we are to become a First World country, as you said in your resolution, we have to put a stop to their ideological nonsense and their criminal acts once and for all. Our instruction, our goal is they must be stopped by 2020. That is what we want to do,” the President said.

“For years,” the President said, “the Communist rebels have been a low-level threat, and it is time for their disruption and violation of human rights to be put to rest so that the nation can move ahead.”

“But to the rebels who genuinely and sincerely speak peace, we shall respond in kind. The most important part of our counter-strategy is the soft power of economic progress, dialogue and continuing efforts to arrive at mutual understanding,” the President said.
The President said the government is continuously devising programs to advance peace and development in the country that include human rights advocacy and a social integration program for rebels wanting to return to the mainstream of society. It is no longer necessary to lose lives on both sides of the conflict when so many opportunities are now available to improve the people’s welfare, the President said.