MANILA, Philippines — With meetings and planning sessions now in full swing, the military expressed optimism yesterday that President Duterte’s creation of a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict will succeed in helping end insurgency. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. said he is looking forward to the operationalization of Executive Order No. President Duterte ordered the creation of the National Task Force to ensure the efficient institutionalization of the “whole-of-nation approach” which seeks to address the root of insurgency. Madrigal stressed the need for all government agencies – both national and local government units – to come together to totally eradicate the root causes of conflict and violence. The President is chairman of the National Task Force while National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. will serve as vice-chairman with the secretaries of various agencies as members.

Source: Philippine Star January 04, 2019 23:03 UTC