MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) dispelled claims of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) that the military has sustained severe losses in its ongoing campaign against the rebels in Mindanao.
“The claims of the CPP-NPA that the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) had casualties is not true. It´s their way of covering up for the debacle that they suffered in the series of encounters in the Agusan Sur-Bukidnon boundaries that resulted to the capture of the area that is suitable for a huge clandestine gathering,” Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Tuesday.
He added that information given by the surrenderers was a big help in pinpointing the exact location of the two clandestine areas.
“In the next few days, we expect more surrenderers to come down and avail of the E-Clip offered by the Task Force Balik Loob headed By Usec. (Reynaldo) Mapagu of DND (Department of National Defense). They will take advantage of the ‘ceasefire’ declared by the CPP-NPA,” Detoyato said.