Gen. Andres Centino (left) presides at the AFP command conference held on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, in Camp Aguinaldo. (Photo from the Facebook page of the AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The communist New People’s Army (NPA) only has one remaining active guerrilla front nationwide, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, Gen. Andres Centino, said in a command conference in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
The conference is held regularly with field commanders to evaluate the status of AFP programs and campaigns.
“Our efforts have resulted in success with the significant reduction of their numbers and firearms and the clearing of areas where they used to maintain presence,” Centino said.
From five active guerilla fronts by the end of 2022, two had been dismantled and two had been weakened — “leaving only one active,” he added.
Before this, Centino said the NPA had two active guerrilla fronts.
Earlier Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who was a chief of the Philippine National Police during the Duterte administration, said that every NPA guerrilla front should have at least three platoons with around 100 armed combatants.
With the “substantial gains” in the internal security operations (ISO) Centino said the AFP would now be free to focus on external security operations as directed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
That would mean more aerial and sea patrols, air surveillance through radar, monitoring of sea communication lines and redeployment of Naval Special Operations units and the Marines, Centino said.
So far, he said: “We have improved our capabilities and our presence in strategic locations with the increase in the number of naval vessels and the effective presence of our maritime detachments in the Batanes group of islands and the West Philippine Sea.
“These are complemented by partnering with our ally and strategic partner armed forces from our global and regional allied countries that enables leveraging of capabilities through information sharing, subject matter expert exchange, and joint and combined maritime patrols.”
Meanwhile, Centino said the AFP should seek further improvements in reserve force development, cyber defense, resource programming and prioritization, and human resource competencies.
He also ordered a review and assessment of the AFP modernization program.
“In order to keep steps ahead of the adversaries, we will also boost up our efforts to improve interoperability, strengthen intelligence sharing, and pursue efficiency and innovations in all our operations,” Centino said.
“The AFP remains committed to the ideals of unity, loyalty, and service to the country. We will forge ahead with determination, vigilance and be ready to face any challenges that may arise,” he added.