• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reported that the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army in Visayas region continues to suffer defeat, noting that the Visayas Command (VISCOM) and its subordinate units inflicted the terrorist group another major blow for the month of April.
In a report of VISCOM, it said that its Army infantry units in Negros and Samar initiated 12 encounters with the NPA for the month of April, that led to the neutralization of 21 rebels, of which 11 died in gun battles, including Rogelio Posadas, alias Ka Poten, who was killed in an encounter in Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, three others were apprehended, while seven surrendered.
Posadas served as the secretary of Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, as reported by the AFP.
In the same period, 25 firearms were recovered by Philippine Army soldiers.
“We have sustained the momentum and we have achieved significant gains against the CPP-NPA in the region, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, who is the AFP Visayas Command chief, said.
Arevalo said they will not stop until justice is serve to these NPA rebels who have been terrorizing the people in Visayas for more than five decades.
VISCOM records further showed that 100 rebel supporters and sympathizers pledged their allegiance to the government.
Arevalo said the CPP-NPA in the Visayas region are in disarray after losing several of their key leaders, and have no clear operational direction.
“There will be no safe haven for them. They can run but they can never hide. The long arms of justice will eventually catch up with them.” he stressed.*
