AFP can't meet deadline to wipe out insurgency - Bangit

MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit yesterday admitted that the military couldn’t meet the June 30 deadline of ending the communist rebellion in the country.

Bangit said while the military has reduced the strength of the NPA, attacking the root causes of insurgency such as underdevelopment and illiteracy is necessary.

“If we would base it on the scoreboard alone, then we can say that the Armed Forces in its level has fulfilled its mission. However, insurgency is not like that. We have to address the larger part which is the root causes of insurgency,” Bangit said.

“Most of the causes of insurgency may not call for a military solution at all.”

He stressed that the lack of human resources in the government has prompted soldiers to even help in giving basic services.

He cited as examples the literacy patrols deployed in far-flung areas, the AFP medical and dental missions, and other developmental projects under the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program.

Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of think tank Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said addressing insurgency hinges largely on non-military methods.

“Insurgency problems in the Philippines have underlying social, economic and political conditions that the military alone cannot address,” Banlaoi said.