Davao City: Amidst the crisis brought about by the COVID- 19, Major General Jose C. Faustino Jr., the Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command challenges the starving members of the New People’s Army to surrender and avail the Government’s Enhance Local Integration Program and other Social programs instead of harassing communities and grabbing their relief goods.
“Instead of harassing and Gabbing the relief goods of the communities and adding to their misery, it is better for the NPA members to surrender and avail the Government’s Enhanced Local Integration Program and other Government Social Programs”.
“we have a caring government that attends to the need of every citizen of this country in times of crisis” Major General Faustino Jr. said.
The challenge came after troops under the Eastern Mindanao Command figured in series of encounters after responding to reports that several members of the NPA are harassing the communities in Barangay Cuyago, Jabonga in Agusan del Norte on April 13, 2020 and in Barangay Mahan-ub, Baganga Davao Oriental on April 11, 2020.
Previously, an encounter also transpired in Barangay Tagdangua Pantukan Davao de Oro on April 07, 2020, after the AFP- PNP Inter-Agency group responded to a reported NPA extortion in the said area.
Relatedly, Major General Faustino Jr. in his directive lauded the efforts of the diffirent units in Eastern Mindanao Command in supporting the different LGU’s in their initiatives against COVID- 19.
He also reminded them of their task in securing the communities from the terroistic acts of lawless armed groups.
“Let us continue to support the Local Government Unit Initiatives and programs to prevent the spread of the Virus and mitigate its social and economic impact without compromising the security of our communities from possible terroristic acts”. Major General Faustino Jr. directed.
