AFTER successful military operations against the Abu Sayyaf, including one that ended the life of its top commander, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is now training her sights on crushing the communist New People's Army, saying this year will be a 'watershed for national security.'

Khadaffy Janjalani, the leader of the extremist Muslim group, died in an encounter with troops last September 4 in the island-province of Sulu. But his death would only be confirmed later by a DNA test that was performed on the body that was dug up and initially presumed to be Janjalani’s by the military at the site of the encounter.

As the military continues to mop up the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf group in Mindanao, Arroyo said government forces would thwart efforts of the NPA to use the May election to gather funds from candidates through revolutionary taxes.

'This year will be a watershed for national security as we mop up the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao and continue to blunt the tactical edge of the New Peoples’ Army,' she said in a statement.

'Meanwhile, we shall continue to strengthen the ramparts of democracy by cutting off the tentacles of the NPA that imposes revolutionary taxes on the people and campaign taxes on candidates for the polls,' she said.

Arroyo said terror and insurgency would be dealt with a 'strategy of military action, good governance, the peoples’ alertness, strong regional and global alliances, principled peace negotiations and the sword of all faiths.'

'The morale of the soldiery and the people are high and they will carry the fight with joint vigilance and steely determination,' she said.

Arroyo said the end of terrorism in Mindanao would spell a 'quantum leap' in peace and development in the region.