It is time for the Filipino people to unite and end more than 52 years of insurgency that has blighted the Philippines.
Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson made this call today (March 14) as he visited Isabela province, where the New People's Army (NPA) was born in Jones town in 1969.
The NPA is the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
"Dapat talaga, the Philippines deserves a better peace and order and prosperity (I believe the Philippines deserves a better peace and order and prosperity). Dapat magkaisa-isa na tayo para ang kapayapaan at katahimikan mamayani sa ating bansa at tuloy umasenso na tayong lahat (We should unite so there will be peace and prosperity in our country and we can live better lives)," Lacson said at the flag-raising ceremony in Cauayan, Isabela.
“Our country needs strong leadership, someone with vision and the ability to implement peace and order,” Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, said.
Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, noted that during the five decades of insurgency, more than 2,000 people have been killed while billions of pesos had been lost to the NPAs who collect revolutionary taxes and burn the equipment of businessmen who do not cooperate.
Also, he pointed out President Duterte himself has cited intelligence information indicating the CPP, NPA and National Democratic Front (NDF) might have "infiltrated" the campaigns of some camps.
Lacson said the Philippines has already experienced twice the scenario of those identified with the CPP-NPA getting government posts - with the NPA gaining strength each time.
"Napansin namin, ang lalakas ng armas so pag nasa govt ang CPP NPA lumalakas ang pwersa nila within the govt bureaucracy itself (We noticed that when those in the CPP-NPA join the government, the NPA's weapons become more powerful)," he said, adding the people could no longer allow the CPP-NPA to enter into a "coalition" with the government a third time.
In his speech, Lacson also recalled his stint in Isabela in 1988 as then provincial commander of the Philippine Constabulary (PC). During his stint there, he said he stopped the NPA's practice of conducting checkpoints there, and enforced the Constabulary's checkpoints.
He cited one mission where the NPA ambushed his men, with Lt. Rosauro Toda - a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1986 - among the fatalities.
He also noted the ambush had been meant for him, had Toda’s reinforcing group not hit the ambush site ahead of the main force which he was leading.
Lacson, who is running for President under Partido Reporma, visited Isabela province with his vice presidential bet, Senate President Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III.
Sotto, in his speech, noted he had worked for the cityhood of Cauayan.