AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar (File photo)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is losing its relevance as it continuously loses to the military.
"The CPP-NPA-NDF is losing not just tactical battles, but relevance as well. With the remaining 24 guerrilla fronts, 19 of which are weakened and inactive, this leaves the Communist Party with five fronts to pursue its violent means of achieving political objectives," AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said in a statement late Sunday.
From a high of 89 NPA guerrilla fronts, these went down to 24 due to the government's ongoing civic and military campaign against the insurgents.
AFP chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro earlier said 19 out of these 24 remaining guerrilla fronts could be dismantled at the "soonest possible time".
Medel also said the relentless efforts by government security forces to defeat the NPA have also displaced its political units making them incapable of performing any party programs.
"With the relentless efforts of the government security forces to subdue insurgency, the CPP found its lower politico-military organs on the run, therefore incapable of implementing party programs, the lifeblood of its existence," he added.
While the AFP is encouraging all remaining NPA rebels and their allies to surrender and rejoin mainstream society peacefully, Medel said the military remains committed to sustaining the offensive against lawless violence.
"As the AFP calls for the remaining NPA members to return to the fold of the law, it also commits itself to sustain the offensive against lawless violence," he added.
With the insurgents no longer getting support, the AFP spokesperson said it is only a matter of time before the NPA is totally neutralized and defeated by government forces.
"With no mass bases to hide them, in no time the NPA will be destroyed by the combined strength of the government security forces. The CPP should accept that the battle is lost, that its programs need not be imposed with violence, and that it has the moral responsibility of saving its fighters from death and destruction," Medel said.
Medel, meanwhile, renewed his call to all Filipinos to help the military convey to the remaining rebels the government's message of unity and peace.
"Finally, we call on all the Filipino people to help us convey the message of unity and peace. Let the hatchet of hate be buried for our nation to move forward as one," he added. (PNA)
