'Military winning fight vs insurgency'

MANILA, Philippines - Military officials yesterday disputed a WikiLeaks report saying that the government cannot defeat the communist rebels and maintained that they are winning the fight against insurgency.

Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said the strength of the New People’s Army (NPA) has been declining due to their counter-insurgency efforts.

“The information gathered by WikiLeaks is inaccurate. The Army is confident we will be able to lick this insurgency sooner, especially with (security plan) Bayanihan,” Parlade said.

“The strength now of the NPA is down to 4,300. How do we explain the exodus of surrenderers if we are not effectively executing our campaign?” he added.

Parlade said many local officials are confident that the rebellion would soon be reduced to insignificance.

“Soon, development will come in (to areas influenced by rebels)... Remnants of the NPA are now merely engaging in banditry,” he said.

Parlade, however, admitted that some people still believe the claims of the communist movement.

“Many of them are ill-informed, if not uneducated, mostly kids. It may not be totally eradicated because insurgency thrives on issues and a third world nation like us will not run out of issues,” he said.

Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr., Armed Forces public affairs chief, said they do not glorify reports from WikiLeaks as these are unconfirmed.

He, however, maintained that the threat posed by the insurgents has lessened.

“From a peak of 24,430 rebels 15 years ago, the NPA strength is now down to just less than 5,000,” Burgos said.

Burgos said the number of barangays influenced by the NPA represents a mere 2.4 percent of the total barangays nationwide.

Meanwhile, the military has rejected the NPA’s appeal for a suspension of military operations in five provinces in Southern Mindanao and the Caraga region to pave the way for the release of captive Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig, Surigao del Sur, his two military escorts as well as four Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel.

“It is impossible. The AFP cannot grant their demand. We have a duty to protect our people. We cannot just stop our operations,” said Lt. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commander of the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command.

 – With Edith Regalado