Army official: Rebels’ strength decline

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Mar 31): Army official: Rebels’ strength decline

A TOP military official said the government is winning the war against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CNN) in the three Zamboanga provinces.

Colonel Jesus Manangquil, Jr., Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the CNN has already lost mass based supports in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Manangquil said the NPA rebels based in the three Zamboanga provinces belong to the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), which is headed by a certain Ka Bamban.

Manangquil said the strength of the WMRPC has declined to less than 100 armed followers this year from more than 1,000 in the previous years.

In the case of Zamboanga del Norte, Manangquil said the Bayanihan Outreach Program of the provincial government is of big help to the campaign against the NPA rebels aside from the continued military offensive.

He said the NPA rebels are always on the run evading the government troops since they have lost mass-based support.

“Marami na sa kanila ang sumuko,” he added.

He said this is also the reason why the NPA rebels could not even launch tactical attacks despite orders from the higher echelon of the CNN.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2016/03/31/army-official-rebels-strength-decline-465326