• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following the dismantling of five rebel guerilla fronts and their mass-based organizations, remnants of the New People’s Army in Negros Island are now on the “survival stage,” according to Army Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin.
The NPA were unable to conduct tactical offensives against the government within a period of one year and eight months, disclosed Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who supervises three Army battalions in northern and central Negros.
The Philippine Army estimates that there are still about 30 NPA remnants, from its peak of more than 200 combatants, several years ago.
“Their morale is low, with few remaining members, and they are now in survival stage, considering that they do not have masses anymore, except for their direct relatives and families, who are now urging them to surrender,” said Edralin, who assisted on Wednesday Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in the distribution of P228,000 in financial aid to former rebels, who are now community development workers at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.
Asked on the challenges they will be expecting, following the declaration that Negros Island is now in a status of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS), Edralin said the rebel remnants, who are now the focus of their military operations, will do everything to discredit their efforts, including possible staging of assassination activities.
He added that the sustainment of peace efforts, of all projects and programs of the government in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), and support to former rebels are also among other challenges they are facing.
The Philippine Army earlier gave assurances that they will not leave Negros, despite the SIPS declaration, as they have learned their lessons from the past.
Lacson clarified that Negros Occidental is not totally cleared of armed rebels. He, however, said that it is “peaceful and sustainable,” which he attributed mainly to the men-in-uniform, such as the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police.
“These are the people who defended us from the aggressive rebels,” said Lacson, the chair of the Provincial Task Force ELCAC (Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict).
As the rebel remnants will try to recover their lost territories, we have to show them that we in the civilian government are supporting their former comrades who decided to join us in the government, the governor said.
“Once we also convince the (NPA) remnants to join us (in mainstream society), it is now the duty of all local government units, civilian government to support these former rebels, and to show them that they made the right decision, for peace and progress of the province,” Lacson said.*
