NPA surrenderees increase in 2012—AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Communist rebels that returned to the government fold increased to 367 in 2012 from 235 in 2011, or 56 percent, the military claimed Monday.

Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, attributed it to the military’s anti-insurgency strategy, the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan.

“The IPSP Bayanihan also sustained its momentum by posting a 63% increase in the total of neutralized communist rebels in 2012, according to various reports from field units of the military,” he said.

New People’s Army-initiated violent incidents also dropped by 21 percent, or from 473 in 2011 to 374 in 2012.

“This shows the continuing decline of NPA-initiated violent incidents during the implementation of IPSP Bayanihan. Before it was launched in 2011, the AFP recorded 501 NIVIs in 2010,” he also said.

Burgos added that the NPA “continues to attack civilians and non-combatants” as demonstrated in their recent attacks in Negros Occidental that killed nine civilians and the simultaneous raid of DOLE Philippines and Del Monte Plantation.

“Such modus of force and intimidation to coerce civilians including private firms and individuals to give in to their demands are desperate moves by the NPA who continue to lose their mass base support,” he said.