AFP sees intensified recruitment amid offensives vs NPA

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Wednesday it expects intensified recruitment amid its offensives against members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Now na ito na ang (that this is the) focus ng kino-conduct nating (of our) operations against the terrorist NPA, ine-expect natin na magre-recruit sila dahil sa tingin nila mangangailangan sila ng mas maraming pwersa upang tapatan ang isinasagawang operation ng ating pamahalaan (we are expecting they will recruit because they think they will need more forces to equal government operations),” AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo told reporters.

New recruitment videos of the NPA have been circulating online.

On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte formally declared members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People’s Army as terrorists.

Peace negotiations with communist rebels were recently terminated by the government following the supposed stepped up attacks against security forces.

“Magpapatuloy ang ginagawa natin focused military operations alinsunod sa formal na terminasyon ng peace talks (Our focused military operations will continue following the formal termination of the peace talks),” Arevalo said.

The military estimates that there are currently 3,800 members of the NPA across the country.