By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Laoag City—Mayor Michael M. Keon threw his full support to the government’s anti-terrorism initiatives to end local communists and armed conflict, which is spelled out through President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70.
Mr. Keon stated his full support to the initiative in a Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) press conference regarding the “Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development “
DILG provincial director Randy Dela Rosa, Laoag chief of police P/Lt. Col. Rafael Lero and Philippine Army 2nd Lt. Nolhajie Jawadin attended the said press conference.
In his speech, Mr. Keon said he believes the government “really needs to take care of its people and provide necessary programs and services especially to the common tao because they are the most vulnerable sector of society to be lured in joining the misguided ideologies of these terrorist groups”.
Relative to this, the Laoag government organized a Laoag City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (CTF-ELCAC) in support of EO No. 70 to attain “inclusive and sustainable peace and order”.
Mr. Lero, for his part, confirmed that no Laoag resident is part of any terrorist group including the New People’s Army (NPA).
However, the police chief added that there is still a need “for guidance from the government”.
He identified the rural Brgys. of Bacsil South, Bacsil North, Lataag, Lagui Sail, Salet-Bulangon, Barit-Pandan and Vira as the primary areas for the anti-terrorism programs and activities of the government.
Mr. Jawadin meanwhile appealed to the public to be “open and friendly with the members of the PNP and Army in case of emergencies”.
Mr. Dela Rosa also appealed to the public and all sectors of the society “to be more alert and vigilant about terrorism and its bad effect”.