• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Eradicating the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and its underlying support networks is essential to achieving sustainable economic development and long-term stability, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, said Aug. 4.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the International People’s Peace Solidarity Mission in Bacolod, Dumosmog stressed that securing a peaceful environment must precede economic progress, as violence deters investors and hampers livelihoods.
“Before we achieve lasting peace and sustainable development, we have to stabilize the peace and order situation. Meaning to say, we really have to get rid of the CPP-NPA-NDF, not only the red fighters, but also those assisting them by providing financial resources and support,” Dumosmog said.
He noted that security and development go hand in hand, requiring a multi-sectoral approach rather than a purely military effort.
He added that dismantling the support system is critical to breaking the cycle of armed conflict in the region.
“This is not just a fight between the Armed Forces and the CPP-NPA. They have a broad support network. Even if we eliminate the NPAs in the mountains, if recruitment continues in the lowlands, the cycle will just repeat itself, and we have witnessed that. We have to get rid of this network to really achieve sustainable development,” Dumosmog added.
Maj. Gen. Joey Escanillas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, identified extortion, terrorist financing, underground mass organizations, and forced taxation as primary financial lifelines of the rebel group.
He said that in 2021, Panay-Negros was second in the Philippines among the resource generation, while the Northeastern Mindanao topped the list. | TMD
