Anti-insurgency BDP draws ‘avalanche of support’ – NSA
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. expressed elation over what he calls an “avalanche of support” from a huge number of national and local government officials as well as influential groups and individuals for the Barangay Development Program (BDP) that aims to free 822 neglected barangays from the clutches of communist-terrorists.
`“In no other time in recent history that we saw this kind of phenomenal outpouring of support for such a novel government program whose intention is to bring development to far-flung and poor barangays that are guerilla bases of the communist terrorists. It is like an avalanche or a bandwagon, where supporters of the program pour in daily by expressing their all-out and uncompromising support for the BDP, a project that showcases good governance, which is the true spirit of NTF-ELCAC,” Esperon said.
`Esperon, who sits as Vice Chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, said there are 518 barangays, 366 cities and municipalities and 20 provinces that have passed their respective resolutions in support of the “game-changing initiative.”
“These LGUs strongly oppose the defunding of the (BDP) under the NTF-ELCAC. The BDP is a game-changing initiative for the development of these barangays under threat from the CPP-NPA,” Esperon explained.
These are apart from various private groups and individuals like Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, who warned that moving to defund NTF-ELCAC is actually doing communist-terrorists a favor. In a video message, Quiboloy, whose group claims to have around six million members, even hailed the anti-insurgency task force for its commitment to end the 53-year scourge of communist terrorism.
Esperon stressed that calls to defund NTF-ELCAC are misplaced and untimely, explaining that: “Many of these communities have lon