CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The continuing military operations, combined with the efforts of the police and other security sector partners, has led to the weakening of the communist terrorist groups (CTGs) in Central Visayas.
“The strength of the CTGs in the region is diminishing due to their decline in number,” said Philippine Army Joint Task Group Cebu Commander, Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, during the 2nd Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC-7) meeting in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu.
Lamzon said the JTG is now focused on countering the ‘white area operations’ or the CTG urban operations in Central Visayas.
Two of their priorities for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) are the Counter CTG Urban Operation vis-a-vis Sectoral Front Organizations (SFOs) a CTG Affected Mass Organizations (CAMOs) through CSP-Wide Area Operations and Counter Political Operations vis-a-vis Religious, Youth-Student, Urban Poor, Labor Sectors.
Community Support Program
The Community Support Program (CSP) urban operation is also ongoing with 10 of the CAMOs in Cebu island, namely: Kapunungan Alang sa Kauswagan sa Kasapdan-Sugbo Inc. (KAKASAKA), Tayud Fisherfolks Association (TFA), Federation of Mandaue City Urban Poor Inc. (FEDMACUPI), Tipolo Residents Association (TRA-KADAMAY), Kahugpungan sa mga Lumulupyo nga Walay Sandiganan (KALUWASAN), Carbohanong Alyansa Alan sa Reporma ug Bahandianong Ugma sa mga Nanginabuhi (CARBON), Alliance Energetic Vendors Association Incorporated (AEVAI), United Residents of Sitio Aroma (URSA), San Roque Farmer’s Association (SRFA), and Multi-Sectoral Alliance of Sibonga (MUSECAS).
In 2022, 15 out of 17 CAMOs in Cebu island have already been cleared.
The two remaining CAMOs – URSA in Mandaue City and SFRA in Aloguinsan – are still ongoing.
There are also new programmed CSP operations this year for 14 CAMOs in Cebu, which have yet to start depending on the availability of the budget.
Counter political operation
JTG Cebu also conducted a three-Day KASANGGA Youth Leadership Camp 2024 for the Cebu City Federation of Tertiary Supreme Student Government (CCFTSSG) in coordination with Cebu City Youth Development Office with the theme “Bridge of Understanding: Fostering Collaboration, Leadership, and Preparedness.”
The event trained 95 students form 11 colleges and universities in Cebu City that are potential leaders who may engage with Counter CTG Youth-Student Infiltration Operation during the academic year 2024-2025.
“We’re now allowed to identify potential leaders who may work with the unit on its Counter CTG Unit Students infiltration operation which may tend to start the academic year 2024-2025,” Lamzon said.
This also allowed the task group to establish a working relation with school administrations.
The Counter Political Operation of JTG Cebu also recently liberated two of the heavily CTG-infiltrated and manipulated affiliates of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) – the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).
Lamzon said this operation has become the template for the entire country.
“This phenomenon is now the template for the whole Philippines. They are looking at what happened here in Cebu na naibalik yung control, na nawala yung captivity and control ng CPP-NDF,” he said.
This has also become successful with the collaboration with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-backed Special Team on Counter CTG Church Infiltration Operation (STCCCIO).
Lamzon said their efforts resulted in increased vigilance among church members.
“The church members are now more vigilant. As a matter of fact, the [UCCP] Cebu conference in Toledo held a youth camp na gusto pasokan pa ng NDF, but they outrightly refused. So meaning, we have gained ground in protecting our youth against CPP infiltration influence na hindi na po mauulit yung ‘Hannah Cesista’, hindi na mauulit yung ‘Nikka dela Cruz’ [incidents] as an example,” he said. (JJT/PIA7)
