BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade expects the death of Negros rebel leader Erickson Acosta to be further exploited by allies and supporters of the communist terrorist group, after his cadaver was claimed by his family and brought to Manila on Saturday.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said he observed that the involvement of Acosta in armed struggle and terroristic activities in Negros, being the first deputy secretary of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/ Cebu/Bohol/ Siquijor (KR-NCBS), was never mentioned by the NPA and its allies, who only described him as a revolutionary, propagandist, poet, song writer and journalist, among others.
Pasaporte said that the death of Acosta following an encounter with 94th and 47th Infantry Battalions, in. Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City, is another setback to the NPA in Negros Island, after its regional commander, Romeo Nanta, was also killed in an encounter in Himamaylan City more than a month ago.
He recalled that the death of several top NPA leaders in Negros prompted the CPP central committee to dispatch Acosta and his wife, Kerima Lorena Tariman, to Negros to help in the recovery efforts of the KR-NCBS.
Tariman also died in a gun battle with 79IB soldiers in Silay City, Negros Occidental, last year.
“The morale of their members is very low,” Pasaporte said, noting the surrender of many of their followers, bringing along their guns, particularly in central Negros.
They are watching each other, as to who will surrender next, he added.
Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, in a statement said that the CPP – NPA terrorists in the Visayas continue to weaken with these series of setbacks.
We will sustain our campaign until such time that this menace is totally eradicated, Arevalo, who is also acting Visayas Command chief, said.
Thus, we appeal to the few remaining members of the CPP – NPA terrorists to surrender, before the long arm of justice will catch up with them, he added.*
