Military says it is ”winning the war” vs threat groups

December 7, 2020

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is "winning the war against various threat groups" in the country.

"I am proud to report that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is winning the war against the various threat groups," AFP chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay said in the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday.

"We continue our relentless operations against different internal threat groups, first of which are the CPP-NPA ( Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) that we continue to hunt down this armed group that splintered into small formation in the hinterlands," he said.

Gapay said based on their data more than 7,000 NPA were neutralized since January this year.

"Most of whom have surrendered. Around 6,600 have surrendered then 1,991 were killed during armed encounters with security forces and 250 were apprehended," he said.

"Aside from that more than 1,500 firearms were recovered resulting from those relentless operations of different AFP units. And we also want to highlight the 491 improvised explosive devices that we have recovered," he added.

"We have neutralized more NPA leaders from the national, regional, provincial, and front levels. That's why the Armed Forces is winning the war against the CPP-NPA... our problem in insurgency will soon be solved permanently," Gapay noted.

Gapay highlighted the military accomplishments on its fight against other terrorist groups in southern part of the country.

"Against the Abu Sayyaf Group, since January until December 4 of this year, we have neutralized 187 Abu Sayyaf Group (members) and 134 firearms were recovered through our relentless and intensified security operations and most of which are ASG members who have surrendered," said Gapay.

"(Against) BIFF we have neutralized 232 since January and recovered 193 firearms. And in the Maute Group those who attacked Marawi in 2017, sixty-one were neutralized and 52 firearms were seized from the Maute terror group," he added. Robina Asido/DMS