Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Romeo Brawer Jr. on Friday announced the military is currently focused on dismantling the four remaining weakened guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army (NPA).
In a press briefing, Brawner said the military targets to eradicate four weakened NPA guerilla fronts by the end of the year.
“About three months ago, we reported that there were seven remaining weakened guerrilla fronts. Now, there are only four. And we are expecting that by the end of the year, we will have finished all the guerrilla fronts. We will have reduced them to zero,” Brawner said.
He said these remaining weakened guerrilla fronts are operating in the northern Luzon, southern Luzon, and Visayas areas.
According to Brawner, the NPA’s strength has been reduced to 1,111 from 2,200 fighters last year.
“In terms of the strength of the New People’s Army, they are really weak… So that is a big reduction in their manpower. And in terms of firearms, the reduction is the same, about 1,000 firearms have been reduced,” the top brass explained.
In October, the National Security Council (NSC) reported that Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) alleged acting chairperson Wigberto “Baylon” Villarico was arrested in Quezon City.
The CPP demanded the immediate release of Villarico, who was identified as a peace consultant of its political wing, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
According to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Villarico assumed the CPP leadership after the death of Benito Tiamzon on August 22, 2022.
“Villarico was the last Communist leader at large capable of commanding both the party and its armed wing, the New People’s Army. Villarico’s capture closes the chapter on a terrorist fugitive responsible for numerous atrocities against the people,” Año said.
