Active communist fronts down to 7 from 11

ONLY seven active communist guerilla fronts remain, Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said yesterday, crediting the whole-of-government approach in whittling down the number of guerilla fronts from 11 when President Marcos Jr. assumed power in 2022.

Brawner, at the “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” pre-SONA briefing, said military operations against the remaining guerilla fronts are ongoing.

Last week, 10 communist rebels, including three ranking leaders in Central Luzon, were killed by Army troopers in an encounter in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.

While military operations are continuing, Brawner also urged New People’s Army members to surrender and avail themselves of government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program which provides former rebels livelihood and other assistance.

“For so long, we have applied the military approach, pero sa ngayon mas napaganda dahil lahat tayo ay nagtutulong-tulong or itong whole-of-government approach (but it is better now because everyone is helping, or this whole-of-government approach),” Brawner added.