President Duterte said he is hoping that the next administration will continue the government's anti-insurgency programs under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
In his "Talk to the People" address aired Tuesday morning, March 22, Duterte emphasized how the NTF-ELCAC helped many rebels to return to society and support them such as by giving lands and housing units.
"Hini-jack ko ‘yung propaganda (I hijacked the propaganda), the one propaganda that the communists, the terrorists are relying is noon walang lupa (they have no lands). Now, I have distributed something like 100,000 hectares. I hope the next administration will continue with this ELCAC," Duterte said.
The President noted the importance of institutionalizing NTF-ELCAC as he reiterated his claims that there is a political party headed by someone running for presidency that has been "infiltrated" by the communists.
"I am not ready to mention the name but mayroon tayong mga partido (we have a political party) headed by someone running for the presidency and yet they are also playing into the hands of the communists. I think they have been infiltrated," Duterte said.
With this, Duterte renewed his call for rebels to already surrender and join the government's special programs for them before his term ends.
"Mag-surrender na kayo kasi nandiyan ang ELCAC matulungan kayo mga rebelde (Surrender now because the ELCAC is there to help you rebels)... It is a very good program. It has helped a lot of the rebels find their way into the mainstream of society," he said.