Duterte sees NPA problem over by Q2 next year

September 19, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday the problem with communist rebels could be over by the second quarter of 2019.

Duterte made the statement during his visit at Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz, Brgy. Upi, Gamu, Isabela.

"I think that with God's mercy, this will be over by about the second quarter of next year," he told government troops.

He noted that many members of the New People's Army, along with their arms, have been surrendering all over the country.

"I think we are winning the war finally. There are many fronts in  Mindanao, which fell already, especially on the right side, eastern --- Davao, Agusan side," Duterte said.

He said in the western side of Mindanao, the NPA has no strong front because of the presence of the Moros, who would not allow the Maoist rebels to "become too powerful over the area. So, they are just here in Central."

Because of those who surrendered, Duterte said the government intelligence units could extract information from them.

"The information that they (surrenderers) give are big thing. The intelligence (unit) could really work based on what the surrenderees or surrenderors are telling them," he said.

Except for Samar and Quezon, he said the NPA forces have been weakening also in Isabela.

Duterte terminated the peace talks with the Maoist group last year. Celerina Monte/DMS