Military to shift focus to external defense – Año

MANILA, Philippines — The military would be able to shift its focus from internal security to external defense under President Marcos, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said yesterday as he cited the government’s gains against communist insurgency.

Año said the government programs designed to provide support to barangays and integrate former rebels have led to the surrender of several members of the communist armed group.

“Finally, we can put an end to the local armed communist conflict and from there, we will just pursue developments and we will ensure the delivery of services. Not just that, we can now reorient the focus of the armed forces towards external defense,” he said.

“Right now we have so many geopolitical issues, and challenges to face, so we need the Armed Forces to now focus their eyes on external threats,” he added.

Año said the strength of insurgents may not reach zero but the government could reduce it to an “irrelevant number” that would not be a cause of concern for peace and order.

The task force also announced that Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Suharto Mangudadatu has replaced the late migrant workers secretary Susan Ople as Cabinet officer for regional development and security of Metro Manila.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the business sector will also have independent representatives in the NTF-ELCAC’s executive committee, according to the task force’s executive director Ernesto Torres.

The Professional Regulation Commission should revoke the license of former Palace official Lorraine Badoy for red-tagging, a group of health workers urged yesterday.

“It is very frustrating that a fellow health worker resorted to red-tagging us, our organization and its officers rather than offering support and solidarity to her colleagues during these challenging times,” said Jose Espanillo, vice president of National Kidney and Transplant Institute Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers. –  Rhodina Villanueva