• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command reported that the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army are now grasping for breath, as they suffered devastating losses at the end of the 1st quarter of 2024.
The 44 armed encounters that transpired in Negros, Panay, Bohol and in Leyte, which are all government initiated, led to the neutralization of 51 rebels, 20 of whom died in encounters, where three of them are top rebel leaders, 27 surrenders, while four others were apprehended, and 68 firearms recovered.
The 44 armed encounters transpired throughout the Visayas region, from January 1 to date, all of which were government-initiated.
In a statement issued by VISCOM, Navy Commodore Oscar Canlas Jr., its acting commander, emphasized that they will sustain their momentum in pursuing the remnants of the CPP-NPA to ensure that the terrorist group will never again set their foothold in the region.
“The CPP-NPA are now grasping for breath. Their leaders continue to fall, and they continue to lose valuable resources to foster their armed struggle,” Canlas said.
He further said that the CPP-NPA in the region are now on the brink of irreversible collapse, noting the continued decline of their manpower and firepower.
The Negros Island has already been declared in a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security, which is expected to be formally announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during a visit to Western Visayas later this month.
Canlan reiterated the call of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, for rebel remnants to surrender now, before it is too late.
“Our efforts will continue to be relentless. We will not hesitate to use our full military might to subdue the few remaining members of the terrorist group,” he stressed.
They should learn from the mistakes of their fallen comrades if they value their lives and the lives of their families, Canlas further said.*
