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Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, Spokesperson of Armed Forces of the Philippines (Arnel Tacson, 黑料社)
MANILA 鈥� The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said its plan to defeat the communist insurgents is 鈥渨ell within target鈥�.
In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said they are waiting for the declaration of a 鈥渨eakened guerilla front鈥� into a 鈥渃leared鈥� one.
鈥淪o ito, nilalakad na din na ma-declare na ito as insurgency-free ang [mga] areas na ito and with that, kapag matapos natin ito within December (We are working to have these localities declared into insurgent-free areas, and once we complete this within December), we are well within targets,鈥� she added.
Once achieved, Padilla said the AFP can focus on its territorial defense missions.
In a command conference in January this year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the AFP to defeat the country鈥檚 insurgency problem once and for all.
Padilla said from Jan. 1 to Nov. 14, a total of 2,319 鈥渃ommunist terrorist group (members) and supporters鈥� were neutralized.
Of this number, 2,042 surrendered to government forces while another 140 were arrested with 137 killed in military operations.
鈥淎ng panawagan po namin, sa mga naiiwan na lang na miyembro po ng New People鈥檚 Army na magbalik-loob na po sa pamahalaan ang let鈥檚 fight a bigger challenge together (Our call to the remaining members of the New People鈥檚 Army is they return to the fold of the government and help us fight a bigger challenge together),鈥� Padilla said. (PNA)