ILOILO CITY – A peace summit was held over the weekend here to boost the government’s anti-insurgency campaign in Panay Island.
Almost 900 youths from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo participated in 2022 Panay Peace Summit led by the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict-6 (RTF ELCAC).
The summit, which was conducted in collaboration with the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army and the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, focused on discouraging the youth sector from joining the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed group the New People’s Army (NPA).
The RTF ELCAC-6 under chairman Atty. Flosemer Chris Gonzales has focused on the youth in Panay and even went to most State colleges and universities in the four provinces of Panay Island to push a ban on subversive books.
Gonzales has been appealing to the youth to support government programs and development.
This was echoed by the 3rd ID and PRO-6.
“The youth must become an asset for change. As the leaders of tomorrow, the commitment of the youth (for peace) is needed,” said Major Gen. Benedict Arevalo of the 3rd ID as he challenged the youth participants.
Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, PRO-6 director, urged the youth of Panay to stay away from the CPP-NPA as they have a bright future ahead of them.