The World - News from Dec. 28, 1988

The Philippine army has reversed the tide of the long-running Communist insurgency after almost 3,752 people died in the fighting in 1988, Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos said in a year-end report. Ramos said the 1988 death toll was lower than the 1987 toll of 3,812. Ramos credited the army’s “total approach” strategy involving civilian support for boosting the government’s anti-guerrilla campaign. He also said the rebels’ armed strength decreased by 8% to 23,060 regulars in 1988, a decline from 25,200 in 1987.