The Philippine military said on Friday that it will recruit as many as 3,000 new soldiers and 9, 000 militiamen in a bid to eliminate the country's domestic insurgency by the New People's Army (NPA).

Hermogenes Esperon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)' chief of staff, told a press conference that the intensified recruitment drive follows President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's directive to defeat the NPA guerrillas in two years.

The military chief said members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit could guard communities in rebel-active areas while government troops will directly fight the rebels.

The AFP will also implement the "Balik Baril (Return Arms)" program, which encourages rebels to surrender their firearms to the military, he added.

Esperon earlier said the AFP could defeat the armed rebels of NPA, but in four years. The 7,400-strong NPA has been waging insurgency against the government for more than three decades.

Source: Xinhua