Philippine government says rebels weakening

The military operations in the past year resulted in a 4-percent decrease of the New People's Army's (NPA's) number and a 10.92-percent decrease of Abu Sayyaf Group members, the Philippine government said Monday.

The military neutralized 113 Abu Sayyaf members including Abu commander Ghalib Andang alias Kumander Robot, the Philippine Department of National Defence said in its year-end accomplishmentreport.

The department also helped the Philippine National Police (PNP)and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in neutralizing 35kidnappers, rescuing four kidnap victims, and recovering various firearms in major anti-crime operations last year.

It also integrated 792 former Cordillera People's Liberation Army soldiers into the country's Armed Forces and civilian militiaunits.

Three hundred seventy-five indigenous people were also enlistedin the military, the report said.

The NPA, which has more than 8,000 members and has been waging insurgencies in the remote areas in the Philippines since 1969, was listed as terrorists by the United States and the European Union.

The Abu Sayyaf, which has around 300 members, was claimed responsible for many kidnapping incidents of foreign and local people and bombing incidents, including the SuperFerry 14 bombing in February which left more than 100 passengers dead.

Source: Xinhua