THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has vowed to continuously conduct operations against the communists, a military official said on Tuesday, June 23.
Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said at least 10 communist terrorist group (CTG) members were killed from June 16 to 23, including a New People's Army (NPA) leader operating in Occidental Mindoro during armed encounters with AFP personnel while around 22 others either surrendered or were captured.
He said at least 26 firearms, an improvised explosive device, four rifle grenades, two electronic devices and USBs containing important information about the terrorist organization were either seized or captured during these operations.
"We will strike while the iron is hot. And now that the number of areas on ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) that were placed on GCQ (general community quarantine) continues to increase, more and more AFP personnel can now be redeployed to further step up the tempo of focused military operations," said Arevalo.
"Napakalaking bagay ng redeployment at additional troops sa ating sustainment ng focused military operations. If our current deployments have already been reaping success, we are confident that the fresh troops that will be brought back to the frontlines will have a positive impact in our campaign against the CTG and the LTG (local terrorist group)," he added.
Arevalo made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday evening, June 22, that the biggest threat to the country is the communist group.
Duterte said this prompted him to order the AFP to hit hard on the communist group which, along with the Abu Sayyaf Group, is taking advantage of the country's current situation due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
"If I don't do my duty as president... we might bargain away, place in jeopardy the democratic values Filipinos have enjoyed for the longest time," he said.
'Wag na tayo sana umabot sa... that I have to kill you, kung wala nang iba," he added. (VoxPop Philippines)