NPA fall seen in Davao, Cotabato

DAVAO CITY: A senior military official said over the weekend the whole-of-nation (WoN) approach to resolve issues and address concerns of communities was rendering the communist New People's Army (NPA) ineffective in the boundaries of Davao and Cotabato, causing the rebels' mass base there to face imminent collapse.

Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, the commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion, based in Davao del Sur, cited the robust and proactive program implementation of different agencies under the Task Force Ending Local Armed Conflict or ELAC of various municipalities employing the WoN.