THE leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claimed that the communist New People’s Army (NPA) has failed in its plan to regain back its Marcos-era strength of 25,000 fighters through massive recruitment process, particularly among the youth.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista on Monday said that the failure of the NPA to meet its target force was largely due to the people’s rejection of violence and in part to the sustained implementation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, the government’s new anti-insurgency strategy.