AFP vows Duterte’s ‘desire’ to end insurgency will happen
Credit to Author: DEMPSEY REYES| Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2019 17:10:57 +0000
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday expressed confidence in ending the communist insurgency in the country, which has been an “ardent desire” of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, made the statement after Duterte ordered the military to completely end the insurgency problem, saying it could not be passed on to the coming generations.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines, being the forefront in the campaign to end local communist armed conflict, is devoted to attaining that ardent desire of the President and commander in chief,” Arevalo said in a statement to reporters on Friday.
He reiterated that the New People’s Army (NPA) membership was declining due to deaths in armed encounters, arrests and surrendering despite the claims of Communist Party of the Philippines Chairman Jose Maria Sison that these were staged.
“They die during armed encounters, surrender or arrested. The latest among the high-profile personalities arrested was Esterlita Suaybaguio, a member of the Central Committee and secretary of the Metro Manila Regional Party Committee,” he said.
Arevalo was referring to the arrest of a former teacher, who was a consultant of the National Democratic Front whom authorities accused of being an NPA leader.
The spokesman disclosed that the AFP had evaluated the “gains and how to build up on them,” also noting that they had assessed the “remaining challenges” they face in addressing the insurgency.
“We have the upper hand, we just have to maintain the initiative and sustain the gains,” he said.