AFP: NPA still a 'potent challenge'

MANILA, Philippines - The military on Friday admitted that communist insurgency remains a “potent challenge” even as it reported that more than 800 rebels were "neutralized" last year.

Security officials declined to provide specific figures on the strength of the New People’s Army (NPA), but are convinced that they are less than 4,000 as of the end of 2013.

“The CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA is still the most potent challenge. It’s a challenge to security, internal security and peace efforts,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. told reporters after a military command conference.

When asked for the number of communist rebels as of last year, Tutaan said they are still validating their figures.

“We are now assessing our records or our data on the matter in order to have a good picture, an accurate picture as far as their actual strength is concerned. We don’t want to have a superficial assessment on this,” the military spokesman said.

AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said an “honest to goodness” assessment of the NPA is necessary.

“We believe they are less than 4,000 because we neutralized 800 but the current list of the NPA needs to be validated. We believe a lot of those in the list are no longer around or are inactive,” he said.

Military data showed that as of end of 2013, a total of 824 NPA members were neutralized, a term that refers to arrests, surrenders, and deaths. Security forces also seized 425 firearms last year.

The strength of the NPA has remained stagnant in the last three years, remaining within the 4,000 mark based on military estimates.

“They were unsuccessful in expanding their mass base support as 16 more provinces were normalized last year,” Zagala said, referring to the areas that were declared insurgency-free and ready for further development.

The military said a total of 43 out of 75 provinces with the presence of rebels have “normalized.” If an area is declared “normalized,” the lead role of maintaining peace and order will be transferred to the local government from the military.

The military is seeking to end the internal security threats by 2016 so it can focus on other tasks such territorial defense and disaster response. Tutaan said external defense issues were also tackled during the command conference but declined to provide details.

Other threats

The military command conference also discussed other groups that pose threats to national security.

Zagala said the military was able to “neutralize” 502 rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) during the Zamboanga crisis last November. Of the said figure, 208 were killed, 24 surrendered and 270 were captured or arrested.

A total of 20 soldiers were killed while 177 others were hurt during the crisis.

“The (rogue members) do not represent the whole MNLF who is supportive of the peace process in Mindanao, therefore the AFP will ensure that the process is not hampered or disrupted by these rogue elements,” Zagala said.

Zagala said they were able to limit the capabilities of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to sabotage the talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Efforts against spoilers to the peace process are being done in line with the AFP’s continued commitment to support the on-going peace process,” he said.

The two parties have already signed agreements on transition modalities, wealth sharing and power sharing. An agreement on normalization is expected to be finalized this month.

A total of 168 members of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army, a communist breakaway group, were integrated into the military last year.

“In the process, 403 firearms were also turned-over to the armed forces while the government’s livelihood assistance project Pamana, were delivered in the Cordillera,” Zagala said.