Duterte sets POC meeting to ‘end’ Cordi insurgency

BAGUIO CITY -- President Rodrigo Duterte told leaders and stakeholders in Cordillera that he will be presiding over a peace and order council meeting in the region anytime soon to tackle pressing issues and concerns that would help in ending the communist movement before he steps down from power next year.
    In a video call facilitated by Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo prior to the start of a gathering of Cordillera officials recently, the President stated he wanted to visit the Cordillera to see what is happening on the ground and how government was responding to issues and concerns of the people but the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions on movement people prevented him to do so.
    He said he will try to convince his security officials to allow him to visit the Cordillera and other similarly situated regions in the country to interact with people and for him to know and understand their concerns that need immediate action by concerned government agencies.
    The Chief Executive said he wants insurgency eradicated the soonest to develop opportunities in the countryside.
    President Duterte committed to Cordillera leaders he will try to provide funding for identified priority projects.
    He apologized to Cordillera leaders for his failure to visit the Cordillera the past five years but he will make sure he will do it sooner.