There is no let-up in the internal security operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to prevent the communist rebels from launching attacks that will spoil the Filipinos’ celebration of the Christmas holiday, a military spokesperson said Friday, Dec. 2.
Col. Medel Aguilar, acting spokesperson of AFP, said a number of personnel from the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Navy (PN), and Philippine Air Force (PAF) will support forces from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to keep the Christmas and New Year’s Day festivities as peaceful as possible.
“Ang ating mga kasundaluhan at buong pwersa ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas ay laging handa na tumulong sa ating mga law enforcement agencies upang mapanatili ang kapayapaan habang tayo ay nagce-celebrate ng ating Pasko at Bagong Taon (Our soldiers and the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines are always prepared to help our law enforcement agencies to preserve the peace while we celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Day),” Aguilar said during a Laging Handa press briefing.
According to Aguilar, the CPP-NPA’s force has been significantly reduced from 89 Guerilla Fronts (GFs) in 2016 to only 24 now.
Out of the number, 19 GFs have already been “weakened” when their leaders have been neutralized in previous operations while the five remaining GFs – four in Samar and one in Sultan Kudarat – are already being hunted by the military.
Aside from this, the AFP has also “gained significant headway” in its fight against terrorist groups under the present administration.
In the first three months of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the AFP has neutralized around 50 terrorists and confiscated 54 firearms, according to Aguilar.
“We have a very effective framework in preventing ang countering violent extremism. Hindi lang natin nasu-suppress ‘yung violence nila, napipigil rin natin ang recruitment nila mula sa mga mamamayan (We do not only suppress their violence, we also stop their recruitment from the public),” the military spokesperson added.