AFP scores against NPA terrorist rebels in January

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 27): AFP scores against NPA terrorist rebels in January

Eighteen New People’s Army terrorists were killed as a result of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) focused military operations in the first three weeks of January 2018.




(MANILA BULLETIN)

Lt. Col. Emmamuel R. Garcia, chief of the AFP’s Public Affairs Office, said the successful neutralization of NPAs was attributable to the close coordination between the security sector and local communities as the latter have been informing soldiers on the presence of terrorists, especially those conducting extortion.

Just recently, two terrorist leaders were killed after they had engaged police and soldiers in a firefight in Tarlac.

In a Joint Command Conference in Compostela Valley province last week, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the AFP to destroy the NPAs so that peace and economic progress will be achieved, especially in the countryside.

Garcia said the AFP has been recording its gains in the fight against NPAs since the termination of the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF) last year, where a total of 163 terrorists were killed in various operations nationwide.

A total of 188 NPAs also surrendered during the first three weeks of January. Those who surrendered were provided with financial assistance, livelihood, remuneration for their surrendered firearms, and skills training to help them start a reformed life away from armed struggle.

In the same conference last week, the President called on the NPAs to respect surrenderees and not harm them as he ordered the AFP to pursue terrorists wherever they are if they harm any surrenderees.

“The AFP assures the public that offensives against the NPAs will continue in order to protect the people and vulnerable communities from terrorist actions and rebel atrocities,” Garcia said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/01/27/afp-scores-against-npa-terrorist-rebels-in-january/