AFP spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo (left) and PNP spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac (right). (File photo)
MANILA -- The military and the police on Wednesday vowed to undertake relentless efforts in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte's order to wage an all-out war against the communist terrorist group New People's Army (NPA).
"We are engaging the New People’s Army all out -- employing and utilizing all its resources in a focused, surgical, and deliberate lethal and non-lethal operations towards the decisive defeat of the communist terrorists," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to reporters.
He said the AFP is compliant with the directive of the President and the commander-in-chief, who is calling for military and other government agencies to decisively end the NPA threat once and for all.
"The very radical change in government behavior that the President could be referring to is the more potent, deliberate, and concerted action of all agencies of government including the AFP in a whole-of-government manner," Arevalo added.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the order of the President to end the local communist armed conflict will be firm and decisive under the guidance and direction of the national leadership.
"The PNP is honored to play a crucial role in this national undertaking to finally deliver the blessings of sustainable peace, stability and progress to all communities," Banac told reporters when sought for a comment.
He said police operations against the armed components of the communist terrorist movement will be swift and relentless, just as it will be lawful and judicious.
"Every Filipino deserves to live a comfortable life, free from threats of terrorism, violence and oppression," Banac said. (PNA)
