By Genalyn Kabiling
With the communist rebels “losing very fast,” President Duterte is optimistic the government could finally end the war with the armed rebel group by the second quarter of 2019.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The President said the government was “winning” the campaign against the communist group, citing the fall of many rebel fronts and surrender of insurgents and their weapons.
“I think we are winning the war finally. Maraming front sa Mindanao, bumagsak na, especially on the right side, eastern – Davao, Agusan,” the commander-in-chief said before a gathering of government troops in Isabela province Tuesday.
“I think that kung maawa ang Panginoong Diyos (I think with the mercy of the Lord God), this will be over by about the second quarter of next year. Ang rami na kasi nagsu-surrender (A lot of them have been surrendering),” he added.
Duterte also noted that many political officers of the rebel group have also surrendered, allowing intelligence authorities to get information about the location of other rebels.
In the earlier situation briefing in Isabela, the President said he was “happy” that the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were “losing very fast” and “losing grounds in Mindanao.”
Duterte said the political officers were valuable to the government “because we can get much about them.
“I’m happy to report to you there are --- there are so many --- many fronts na wala na or are in the throes of death. Kasi marami nang malaki nagsu-surrender at pinagtuturo-turo na sila,” he said.