Army 7th Infantry Division (7ID) encouraged partner agencies to complete their mission under the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) and intensity security operations for the 2022 National and Local Elections.

7ID Commander and RTF-ELCAC Technical Working Group Chairperson Major General Andrew Costelo reiterated to Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Director Karl Caesar Rimando, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Regional Director Maria Luisa De Guzman and Police Regional Director PBGen. Matthew Baccay the need to intensify efforts, conduct collaborative activities with other national government agencies, and engage more with the community.

“We are already in the stage of this campaign that we have to be more aggressive in our efforts because six months from now, President Rodrigo Duterte will step down as his term ends. This signal the end of our timeline to defeat and eradicate the local communist armed conflict within our area of responsibility,” he told his counterparts.

He likewise asked for collaboration in security operations to ensure a peaceful 2022 National and Local Elections amid the pandemic.

“We have deployed our troops in support to the Commission on Elections and Philippine National Police in the conduct of checkpoints as election period has begun with the implementation of the gun ban,” he furthered.

“We acknowledge that the full cooperation of the community is vital for the successful conduct of the elections in terms of peace and security,” the official emphasized. (PIA 3)