After Marawi, AFP to focus on fight vs NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 18): After Marawi, AFP to focus on fight vs NPA

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will focus on the fight against New People’s Army (NPA) after their success in battling Maute Group in Marawi City.

AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año, in a speech during his visit at the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) Tuesday, said that there will be more Army battalions deployed in the Eastmincom area since most of the places are NPA infested.

“Ngayon natapos na yung Marawi crisis, mag-re deploy na tayo ng presence, may ibabalik na tayong pwersa dito (Now that the Marawi crisis is over, we will re deploy more military presence, we will return the troops here ), ” he said.

Año also said the Philippine Army (PA) will activate additional 10 Infantry Battalions, six of which will be deployed in Eastmincom areas.

“Ito’y para tuldokan na natin yang CPP-NPA na yan (We want to end the CPP-NPA),” he said.

He said this new mandate came from the order of President Rodrigo Duterte who early pronounced the war against the communist groups.

Año said the 8,000 new recruits for the Army will be completed by November this year. Majority of the new recruits will be deployed in Eastmincom.

“By January, additional 5,000 troops will be recruited sapagkat gusto natin mangyari na sa katapusan ng 2018, wala ng CPP-NPA kahit isa sa buong Pilipinas (because we want to happen that by the end of 2018 there will be no CPP-NPA in the whole Philippines),” he said.

“And we can start the massive economic development especially in the area of Mindanao,” he said.

He said the government will be constructing big highways, bridges and railway stations in different parts in Mindanao and this will not be attained if there is peace and order problem.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1013127