By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed confidence that the government could soon put an end to the communist insurgency in Eastern Visayas.

“With such valiant troops in the service of flag and country, I am confident that we can end the communist-terrorist scourge here in Region 8 sooner rather than later,” Duterte said in a speech before the soldiers of 8th Infantry Division at Camp General Vicente Lukban in Samar Wednesday.

The Chief Executive also asked rebels to abandon their obsolete ideology and return to the folds of the law.

“This is why I encourage the remaining rebels to repudiate your outdated ideology, abandon your extremist activities, and return to the fold of the law,” he said.

In March, Duterte announced the permanent termination of the peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front. “I am no longer entertaining any interventions or persuasions in this democratic state of the Republic of the Philippines,” according to him.

In 2017, the President signed Proclamation No. 360 declaring the termination of peace talks with communist rebels. He also signed Executive Order No. 70 directing the creation of a national task force to “end local communist armed conflict” the following year.