INSTITUTIONALIZING THE WHOLE-OF-NATION APPROACH IN ATTAINING INCLUSIVE

AND SUSTAINABLE PEACE, CREATING A NATIONAL TASK FORCE TO END LOCAL
COMMUNIST ARMED CONFLICT, AND DIRECTING THE ADOPTION OF A NATIONAL
PEACE FRAMEWORK

70 (EO 70) S. 2018, which seeks to institutionalize the Whole-of-Nation Approach to pave the
way for collective participation and action in harmonizing government development efforts and
services to support, facilitate and pursue the country's peace agenda.

One of the significant results of the EO 70 is the creation of the Task Forces to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) by the different Local Government Units in Central
and Western Visayas which also led to the declaration of the CPP-NPA as persona non
grata.

He added that EO 70, which was signed by President R. Duterte in December 2018, created NTF
ELCAC that institutionalized a whole-of-nation approach in obtaining exclusive and sustainable
peace-giving us an effective solution against communist-terrorists.

“This multi-pronged approach addresses the motivation for insurgency and will hopefully put an end
to its treacherous life cycle,” he said, adding that by doing so, there will be no reason for the
Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing the New People's Army, and the National
Democratic Front to agitate, organize and mobilize the vulnerable sectors and communities.

“Good governance practices and the efficient delivery of basic services for their constituents create
resilient communities that thwart the return of the communist terrorist groups in their respective
provinces and city,” he added.

The AFP, he said, can now focus its resources, manpower, and firepower on the remaining
communists who persist with armed struggle despite the government’s goodwill through cash
assistance, livelihood training, and housing.

Santos, who is the 53rd AFP Chief of Staff taking the top military post from retired General Noel
Clement, vowed to immediately neutralize groups that insist on seizing political power through armed
struggle and other local terrorist groups like Abu Sayyaf.

“We shall effectively counter their narratives through good governance, build community trust and
earn the people’s respect, he said.

He added that vigilance, support, and cooperation in the local populace are needed in order to
suppress and prevent any future terroristic plans from occurring and avoiding the unnecessary loss
of human lives and damage to property.

“The AFP should always be battle-ready to counteract any threat that confronts our desire for
peace,”
“Guns and cannons can’t do the job alone. All agencies aboard should do its share in ending
communist insurgency across the country. Neither the armed forces nor any law enforcement
squad alone can conquer insurgence. We need the support of all the stakeholders, the local
government units,” Gacal said.