AFP vows new drive vs rebels

On top of the military’s list of New Year resolutions is a new, more vigorous campaign against communist rebels and other threat groups, Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said yesterday.

Adan, however, said the military believes the threat groups are not expected to gain any significant strength this year because of the military and economic gains which the government achieved last year.

He said the communist New People’s Army (NPA) remains the No. 1 internal security threat as it is still actively operating in many areas in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

"The aim of the AFP campaign is to curb the growth and strength of these threat groups, and eventually eradicate them," Adan told The STAR.

"Though they are still there, there will be no substantive increase (in threat groups’ strength," he said.

The military estimates the NPA’s current strength at around 11,000 men, with more than 6,000 firearms, who are active in the Southern Tagalog in Luzon, Samar in the Visayas and Agusan, Davao and Surigao provinces in Mindanao.

The rebels reached a peak strength of more than 25,000 in 1988 but gradually declined to just 5,000 in 1996, prompting the Ramos administration to transfer counter-insurgency functions to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and phase out deployment of the Citizen’s Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGUs).

However, the move, coupled with the Asian crisis of 1997, led to the resurgence of the NPA.

Military intelligence officials also said the communist rebels are more organized, focused and have a relatively firm ideological foundation, that makes them a potent threat.

Adan said the Netherlands-based National Democratic Front (NDF), the umbrella organization of the local communist movement, has not given up its "strategic objective" of overthrowing the government despite the peace talks.

"If they want peace, we will give them peace. But they not only aim to overthrow the government but totally change our ways of life... into communism which is just an ideology," Adan said.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Jose Mabanta said the growth or reduction to rebel strength hinges on the economy’s performance.

"The major issues are always economic or injustice," Mabanta said.

Officials said the government must implement and integrated approach, which includes non-military strategies, to eradicate rebel groups," he said.

Mabanta and Adan called for the recruitment of more soldiers and policemen to increase the government’s presence in remote areas to discourage insurgents and the modernization and professionalization of the military and police.

The officials also called for the reactivation of CAFGUs, whom they said are members of the communities they protect.

Apart from the NPA, government security forces are battling the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Abu Sayyaf group, loyalists of rebel leader Nur Misuari and renegade units of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which had signed a peace pact with the government.

Adan said the military remains supportive of the peace efforts between the government and the MILF but said the Armed Forces will not tolerate any lawlessness committed by any group.

"It is natural for any rebel group to try to consolidate its forces during ceasefire or peace talks," said one senior intelligence officer.

As for the Abu Sayyaf, which is holding captive three hostages, including an American missionary couple in Basilan for over six months now, Adan said the terrorist group’s fighting capability has been seriously degraded.

The Abu Sayyaf is holding captive Martin and Gracia Burnham, whom they abducted along with 19 others from an upscale resort in Palawan on May 27, and Filipina nurse Deborah Yap, who was seized from Lamitan town in Basilan on June 2.

The Abu Sayyaf is included in the United States’ list of terrorist groups.

"We are expecting every effort to rescue the hostages. Even if they are freed, we will not stop until these terrorists are crushed," Adan said.

Military officials said the armed followers of Misuari, who led a failed rebellion in Sulu last Nov. 19, have already sent surrender feelers.