August 16, 2001, The Philippine Star, NPA still top threat -- AFP,

August 16, 2001, The Philippine Star, NPA still top threat -- AFP,

The New People's Army (NPA), armed wing of the communist movement in the Philippines, remains the government's top security threat, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva said yesterday.

"On a long term basis, the NPA is the most potent of the armed threats in the country," Villanueva said after briefing Senators Ramon Magsaysay and Rodolfo Biazon, who visited Camp Aguinaldo.

Latest figures from the military placed the strength of the NPA at 11,673 with 7,045 firearms. By the end of last year, there were 11,255 communist guerrillas with 6,851 firearms.

In the case of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the number of Muslim fighters has decreased to 12,446 from 12,571 last year. The number of firearms remained constant at 9,129.

Last week, government negotiators signed in Malaysia a ceasefire agreement with MILF leaders, a major step toward ending decades of fighting in Mindanao.

On the other hand, negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) hit a snag in June following the assassination of Cagayan Rep. Rodolfo Aguinaldo by suspected NPA guerrillas. -- Paolo Romero