AFP vows to reduce NPA’s number by half

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is accorded with military honors upon his arrival at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City for his attendance to the 82nd Anniversary Celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on December 20, 2017. Accompanying the President is AFP Chief of Staff General Rey Guerrero. ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Rey Guerrero on Tuesday said that the objective of the military for the whole year is to reduce the number of communist rebels by half.

Citing the 3,70o number of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), the new AFP chief vowed to weaken the total strength of the red fighters by 50% for 2018.

“At present, the total strength of the CPP-NPA is 3,700. We intend to reduce that number by half for 2018,” Guerrero told reporters during an interview after the traditional New Year’s Call by the Department of National Defense (DND) and AFP held at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers’ Club at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“As to the number of barangays (to be cleared), let’s leave it for later because we will still have the command conference to thresh out the details of our targets,” he added.

According to Guerrero, in 2016 and 2017, the AFP has been successful in reducing the Red’s manpower and firearms.

“With regards to manpower, we reduce it by 40 percent. The firearms about that number,” he said.

For the record, President Rodrigo Duterte earlier released a forceful order to the military and police to shoot any members of the NPA following his decision to terminate peace talks with the rebels.

“So, if there is an armed NPA there or terrorists, if he’s holding any firearms, shoot. And tell any ako na ang magsagot [I will answer], you just shut up,” Duterte earlier said.

[READ: PRRD orders military, police: ‘Shoot any armed NPA rebels’]

Duterte also added that he will answer any human rights issue that may arise as the government forces continue its shoot-out war with the NPA.

The chief executive also signed an executive order tagging the NPA as a terrorist organization, Duterte has earlier said that he finds the communists no different to the international terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS).