340 rebs ‘neutralized’–AFP

Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

The military has neutralized 340 communist rebels out of an estimated 3,200 armed members of the New People’s Army during the first few months of this year.

The intensified military operations took place as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. prepares to retire from service next week.

Catapang presided over his last command conference yesterday, during which military officials discussed the gains of the six-year Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan.

The AFP said 340 communist rebels were neutralized in the first quarter of 2015, recovering 166 firearms in the process.

The military said the number of communist rebels is now down to 2,800 as of March this year.

But the AFP did not issue figures on the strength of the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), except that 72 Abu Sayyaf personalities and 192 BIFF members were neutralized for the first quarter of 2015.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, public affairs office chief, said Catapang’s last command conference lasted around two hours and was attended by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

“The AFP continues its fight on insurgency and its causes with the implementation of various projects in the countryside which seeks to uplift the quality of lives of residents in those areas while actively working against the NPA,” Cabunoc said.

From a strength of 4,443 in 2014, the NPA’s numbers reportedly dwindled to 4,092 in the first quarter of 2015. These numbers include party members as they only operate against armed members, Cabunoc said.

Three hundred thirty cases have been filed against NPA rebels before the courts while 212 arrest warrants have been issued so far.

The military cited the arrests of the Tiamzon couple and Adelberto Silva, whom the military claims is the new secretary general of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Cabunoc also cited the recent death of NPA leader Leoncio Pitao aka Commander Parago, who was killed in an alleged encounter in Davao City last June 30.

“With the positive outcomes that the IPSP Bayanihan brought, the AFP is now strengthening its ranks and readying itself to protect the territorial integrity and maritime interests of the country as its primordial concern,” the military official said.

Cabunoc said the AFP aims to initiate reforms and sustain the ongoing advocacy and awareness efforts on the West Philippine Sea issue, building the country’s capabilities in humanitarian and disaster response and territorial and maritime defense.

“We push on to gain a credible defense posture that will enable us to win the peace every Filipino deserves. The AFP also strives to better itself with continuous training and helping the administration enrich its relationship with neighboring countries and protect the economic interests of our country to pave the way for economic growth,” the military official said.

The AFP said it has already received the P19.1 billion out of the P83.9 billion earmarked for the military’s modernization program under Republic Act 10349.

Cabunoc said the military is pursuing modernization efforts which include expansion of maritime industry; advancement of aerospace industry; infrastructure development; production of firearms and ammunition, manufacturing of quality combat and military uniforms; and expansion of peacekeeping forces.