NPA can no longer recover its formidable strength – Nolcom

Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. FILE PHOTO

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City– The strength of the New People’s Army has turned into an “irreversible” level in Northern Luzon.

“This is attested by the formal declaration of the 22 provinces in the Nolcom AOR [area of responsibility], together with our stakeholders, as peaceful and ready for further development,” Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang, commander of Northern Luzon Command, said on Tuesday.

At the 27th anniversary of Nolcom here, Catapang said that they have shifted their efforts to readying for more “business enterprises” and “economic-boosting expansions” that guarantee better lives.

“Peace has a shelf life. If our ordinary townsfolk do not feel prosperous, ang tiyan at sikmura niya ay nakararamdam ng gutom. If he feels hungry, there is still a probability that he will join the enemy,” Catapang said in his speech.

He said they have an ongoing programs and developments throughout his area of responsibility.

Catapang also addressed another “emerging challenge” to the military, which is climate change.

“Natural disasters which we believe is the new war that we are facing. No matter how progressive and developed our community may be no one is spared from its impact,” he said.

With this, they already set aside shelters inside camps under his area as possible evacuation sites for future disasters.