Arroyo, Esperon optimistic to meet 2010 deadline in decimating NPA

By Ronron
December 21, 2007

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. are optimistic that the government will meet its self-imposed deadline of 2010 in putting an end to the insurgency problem.

In a speech during Friday’s celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 72nd anniversary, Esperon told the troops to seize the momentum that the military is now gaining in its campaign against the insurgency movement.

“Let me now issue to the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines a call to urgency… We must remember 2010. We must remember the marching order of the commander-in-chief,” Esperon said.

Esperon reported that from a high of 12,000 strength in 2002, the New People’s Army (NPA) has reduced to about 7,200 last year, and further to 6,000 this year.

The guerilla fronts of the movement have also went down from 107 in 2005 to 100 by the end of 2006, and further to 87 only as of yesterday, he said.

“At the rate we are seeing now, we foresee that more will be neutralized until we meet the 2010 deadline,” Esperon said.

The military chief called “on the people to join” the military in his call for urgency.

In her speech, Arroyo said she is “very happy to hear” Esperon’s report on the insurgents’ strength.

“At the rate we are going, I feel we are on track to put an end to the insurgency by 2010. Congratulations,” she said.

Arroyo had set the 2010 deadline in June last year, saying that the insurgency problem is discouraging potential investors in the countryside.

“It is time for their disruption and violation of human rights to be put to rest so that the nation can move ahead. They impede the progress and development of a number of rural areas. They are responsible for a wide range of human rights abuses,” she said yesterday.

“If we are to become a first world country, we have to put a stop to their ideological nonsense and their criminal acts once and for all,” she added.

Esperon said yesterday that said problem is causing a reduction by one to two percent of the gross national product every year.

“The success we are now enjoying indicates we now have a golden opportunity that we must not allow to pass. We must seize the opportunity,” he said.

He said he is confident the military will be able to achieve its goal even if he is already out of the service. Esperon will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9, 2008, but talks are ripe that he may be extended by Arroyo since a chief of staff can also serve for three years./DMS