AFP claims communist rebels atrocities on a ‘downward trend’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has recorded a “downward trend” on the atrocities conducted by the communist rebels, as it has monitored only more than a hundred incidents so far this year.

At a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, military spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo said the AFP has initiated a total of 681 armed encounters against the New People’s Army since January 1 last year to June 25.

A total of 455 communist-initiated incidents were recorded in 2017 while 112 incidents were monitored from January 1 to June 25.

Arevalo also noted that arson incidents have decreased as 77 incidents were recorded in 2017 while 18 were recorded in the first semester of 2018.

Abduction or kidnapping incidents also decreased from 25 to one, intimidation from two to none, ransack from six to three, road blockade or checkpoint from two to none.

The AFP also claimed that 6,659 NPA members, including supporters, have been "neutralized" in the focused military operations. Of this number, 79 were apprehended and 68 were killed. 

A total of 736 low and high-powered firearms were also recovered during the said operations.

“The continuous surrender of NPA members if indicative of the organization's dwindling strength,” Arevalo said.

“This is also a clear manifestation of our successful intensified combat, intelligence, and civil-military operations, particularly in North-eastern Mindanao which is the NPA's area of concentration,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News