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Arroyo orders release of P1 billion to fight NPA
http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index....story_id=79348
First posted 12:49pm (Mla time) June 16, 2006
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net
CAUAYAN, Isabela – (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday ordered the release of one billion pesos to fund intensified operations against communist rebels, calling the money “an investment that will yield peace dividends to the economy.”
The President issued the order to Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya in her opening statement at the Cabinet and Regional Development Council here.
Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, interviewed after Arroyo spoke, said the President had set a “short-term” deadline of “one to two years” to “wipe out the insurgency” in the “critical areas” of Northern Luzon and Southern Tagalog, specifically Quezon province.
“We believe it is doable,” Defensor added.
The President said in her statement that the timetable of six to 10 years set to crush the communist insurgency was "too long," as she also vowed to use government revenues to fight poverty, one of the roots of the 37-year old insurgency.
"We need to buy, and we will buy, surplus Hueys and other attack helicopters and aircraft on soft terms. And I am instructing Secretary Andaya to release one billion pesos to the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PNP [Philippine National Police] PNP to finance operations versus the NPA," she said.
"This is an investment that will yield peace dividends to the economy," Arroyo added.
Arroyo instructed the National Security Group to work with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the purchase of selected hardware "that will give the decisive edge against the NPA."
She said the money is apart from the five billion pesos modernization fund for AFP.
Andaya said the funds, to be taken from the savings of the reenacted 2005 budget, will be released next week. He said military equipment will be acquired through an agreement that will be signed soon by the Philippines with the United States and would be payable in two to three years.
Defensor said the President chose to order the anti-insurgency fund’s release here because Isabela is a known NPA bailiwick.
From their assessment, government projects, especially in the countryside, have been hampered by the insurgency problem, Defensor said.
Arroyo's declaration came following reports that the police and military are preparing murder charges against Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman, Jose Maria Sison.
The Netherlands-based Sison was said to be involved in the killing of former rebel leaders Arturo Tabara and Romulo Kintanar.
Sison said the case has "no factual and legal basis" and "invalid and ineffective."
http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index....story_id=79348
First posted 12:49pm (Mla time) June 16, 2006
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQ7.net
CAUAYAN, Isabela – (UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday ordered the release of one billion pesos to fund intensified operations against communist rebels, calling the money “an investment that will yield peace dividends to the economy.”
The President issued the order to Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya in her opening statement at the Cabinet and Regional Development Council here.
Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, interviewed after Arroyo spoke, said the President had set a “short-term” deadline of “one to two years” to “wipe out the insurgency” in the “critical areas” of Northern Luzon and Southern Tagalog, specifically Quezon province.
“We believe it is doable,” Defensor added.
The President said in her statement that the timetable of six to 10 years set to crush the communist insurgency was "too long," as she also vowed to use government revenues to fight poverty, one of the roots of the 37-year old insurgency.
"We need to buy, and we will buy, surplus Hueys and other attack helicopters and aircraft on soft terms. And I am instructing Secretary Andaya to release one billion pesos to the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and PNP [Philippine National Police] PNP to finance operations versus the NPA," she said.
"This is an investment that will yield peace dividends to the economy," Arroyo added.
Arroyo instructed the National Security Group to work with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the purchase of selected hardware "that will give the decisive edge against the NPA."
She said the money is apart from the five billion pesos modernization fund for AFP.
Andaya said the funds, to be taken from the savings of the reenacted 2005 budget, will be released next week. He said military equipment will be acquired through an agreement that will be signed soon by the Philippines with the United States and would be payable in two to three years.
Defensor said the President chose to order the anti-insurgency fund’s release here because Isabela is a known NPA bailiwick.
From their assessment, government projects, especially in the countryside, have been hampered by the insurgency problem, Defensor said.
Arroyo's declaration came following reports that the police and military are preparing murder charges against Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman, Jose Maria Sison.
The Netherlands-based Sison was said to be involved in the killing of former rebel leaders Arturo Tabara and Romulo Kintanar.
Sison said the case has "no factual and legal basis" and "invalid and ineffective."
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