AFP: Use of assets reflects Pres. Duterte’s desire to end NPA threat

President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the military to use all of its available assets in the all-out war against the New People’s Army (NPA) highlights the Chief Executive’s desire to end the threat posed by the insurgents once and for all. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the military to use all of its available assets in the all-out war against the New People’s Army (NPA) highlights the Chief Executive’s desire to end the threat posed by the insurgents once and for all.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, Friday when sought for a comment regarding President Duterte’s latest directive to the military to use all of its available firepower, including its latest FA-50PH jet fighters and rockets, in neutralizing the rebel forces.

“That is still in pursuit of the earlier directive of the President to conduct an all-out war against the NPA. Earlier, we already said that when we say all-out war, it means making use of all available resources of the government in order for us to defeat the NPA,” he said.

Arevalo noted that the President’s order to use this weaponry against the NPA only mirrors his desire to end the menace brought by the rebel movement.

“It only mirrors his resolve and his determination to conclude this lingering problem but this clearance given to the AFP, it does not necessarily mean that we’re going to employ these assets of government unsparingly. We’re going to use this with extreme caution. We’re going to make use of this only when it is extremely needed or necessary,” the AFP official added.

Aircraft usage will be prompted by accurate intelligence and operations will be surgical in nature so that there will be no unnecessary collateral damage, Arevalo said.