AFP has blueprint to defeat NPA
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday expressed confidence that it can soon defeat the communist New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas through its new campaign plan or blueprint that will help the military put an end to the insurgency problem.
AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo said that with the blueprint, the AFP now has a better chance to finally defeat the problem of communist insurgency which has plagued the country for almost five decades now.
“We are confident that this time we can win and defeat them,”
Arevalo said.
Arevalo said one way of accomplishing their mission is through the Development Support and Security Plan (DSSP) Kapayapaan wherein they can show the people the role of the local government and good governance plus the help coming from the private sector and investors so that they will invest and put up businesses that will help develop a particular area.
Arevalo said with jobs being created, people will no longer join the CPP-NPA and rebel against the government.
The DSSP Kapayapaan also aims to contribute to nation building and provide active support to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other agencies in the war against drugs.
“Even if we conduct combat operations so long as the reasons why they still continue to rebel are there and there is still no progress in their lives, insurgency will remain,” Arevalo said.
“So if we will have the synergy of the three: security that will be provided by the AFP, good governance that will be provided immediately by the local government, and the private and business sector to help provide seeds for growth and development, we will have national well being,” he said.
Arevalo also said that another reason why they are confident that they can defeat the enemy is the swinging of support of the people to the AFP.
He said the people continuously provide important intelligence information that leads to either identification or assault of NPA targets.
“That’s the reason why we easily identify and arrest their leaders,” he said.
Arevalo also said that the surrender of NPA fighters is a big boost to their mission of finally defeating the enemy. (Francis T. Wakefield)