In a recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council 3 here, Army 7th division commander Maj. Gen. Angelito de Leon described the decline in the rebel’s armed manpower as “significant.”
De Leon also reported that the number of affected barangays in Central Luzon has likewise been “maintained at zero since 2012.”
He said NPA activities per province have likewise decreased and mostly limited to the region’s peripheral areas.
Despite these developments, De Leon said the military would remain on guard against rebel activities as the NPA would be expected to regain lost grounds.
“The convergence of efforts by local government units and national government agencies to deliver basic services would be effective against insurgency. Relative peace and security is favorable and will bring more economic development here,” he stressed.