AFP field officials ordered to maintain complement

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will limit the vacation leaves of personnel during the holidays, military chief Gen. Alexander B. Yano said Wednesday. "I had already instructed our military commanders to ensure that there would be enough forces in the front lines, especially those that are involved in operations in Mindanao against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the New People’s Army (NPA)," Mr. Yano told Defense reporters. He said commanders were told to ensure at least a 75% personnel complement at any time during the season. Mr. Yano said the limited holiday break will avoid a security vacuum, especially in light of the suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) against the NPA. Malacañang has declared a SOMO against the NPA on Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Mr. Yano added that while they are focusing on combat operations against Moro rebel commanders Ameril Umbra Kato, Abdulrahman Macapaar alias Bravo and Aleem Sulaiman alias Pangalian, there are enough troops in Luzon and Visayas to address the communist threat. The National Democratic Front, the communist movement’s political arm, has earlier rejected the state’s proposal for a ceasefire prior to the resumption of talks, saying the prolonged ceasefire offered by the government will mean the surrender of "revolutionary forces" and will not guarantee the release of communist leaders from prison. Mr. Yano said a resumption of peace talks with communist rebels will help in achieving the 2010 target to end the insurgency. He noted that by the end of June, the AFP has cut the number of NPA guerillas to 5,000 from 26,800 in 1986 . The AFP is targeting to dismantle 23 guerilla fronts nationwide. "Of the figure, 10 were already downgraded during the first quarter of this year while the rest are in the advanced stage of degradation," Mr. Yano said. — BusinessWorld