The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Sunday that insurgency will be resolved if problems on literacy, poverty and injustice will be addressed in areas where the presence of insurgents remain strong.

Military officials said that among these areas are Bicol, Samar, Negros and Davao, adding that there is so much to be done in solving the issue of insurgency.

But officials believe that the New People’s Army (NPA) will soon be defeated following cut in insurgents’ strength, arms and influence.

“The NPA of today will not be able to survive long because of the effective military operations and the comprehensive government approach to defeating insurgency. It is as well powerless to weather the decrease of its mass-based support and the absence of a worthy ideology,” said Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr., AFP-Civil Relations Service (CRS) commander.

Military records showed that NPA fighters, who believe that their struggle is not a lost cause, continue to surface and return to mainstream society. “The CPP-NPA-NDF is deteriorating steadfastly as an organization,” Cruz said.