AFP, DND counter CPP on its anniversary

From GMA News Online (Dec 26, 2021): AFP, DND counter CPP on its anniversary (By Giselle Ombay)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) hit back at the Communist Party of the Philippines on its 53rd anniversary by saying that the government’s whole of nation approach was “successful” in diminishing the number of terrorist groups this year.

AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Andres Centino said that the CPP suffered “irreversible damage” as the government troops continued to gain tactical and strategic advantages against the CPP.

“The CPP has nothing to celebrate on its December 26 anniversary. The year 2021 was the most successful period in our fight against insurgency,” Centino said in a statement issued on Saturday.

“Our campaign has proven to be effective with the employment of the whole of nation approach involving instrumentalities of government in addressing the root causes of conflict that are at the center of the CPP’s manipulation and exploitation scheme,” he added.

Centino also said this shift in their methodology allowed them to counter both the armed component and the enemy’s exploitation of social issues that are used to have the people turn against the state.
He cited reports that the military has reduced the capabilities of CPP with the neutralization of its top leaders, the dismantling of 21 guerilla fronts and weakening of 14 others, and the clearing of 340 conflict-affected barangays, causing the surrender of its members and the withdrawal of support of their exploited masses.

On December 5, AFP spokesperson Army Colonel Ramon Zagala said that the local terrorist groups were "greatly diminished" this year after the left-and-right-hand approach was used against them.

Zagala said these diminished groups were the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Daulah Islamiya (DI), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The DND backed this, noting that the government’s approach has indeed brought a number of surrenderees and the capture or killing of ranking New People's Army (NPA) cadres.

“The influence of the CPP will continue to diminish as the government implements a whole-of-nation approach, where the people themselves are in the forefront of the fight,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement on Saturday.

Lorenzana said that the CPP should realize that its many years of resistance means they will “never succeed in forcing their unchristian ideology and communist principle” on the people.

“For more than five decades, the CPP has brought nothing but misery, loss of lives, destruction of property, and denial of a bright future for many Filipinos,” he said.

Centino also urged the NPAs to abandon the armed struggle and the “lost cause” espoused by the CPP.

The AFP also noted the confiscation of 579 unexploded anti-personnel mines, and reported to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the United Nations CHR the 254 human rights and International Humanitarian Law alleged violations of the rebel group.

“This year, the CTG [communist terrorist group] has suffered irreparable damage in its leadership, strength, and resources, and the government’s accomplishments have placed us in a better position to end the local armed conflict by next year as mandated by the President,” Centino said.

Centino earlier urged the troops to end the local armed conflict before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends in June 2022.

He added that the AFP is confident that they could fulfill this goal and “finally bring lasting peace and development in the countryside.”

The DND also reiterated that the government is offering benefits for those laying down their arms and rejoining society.

“We call upon those still in the hills to also take up this offer. Come down for the sake of your families. Together we shall work to make our country peaceful and prosperous,” they said.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/815960/afp-dnd-counter-cpp-on-its-anniversary/story/