• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As the year 2023 is about to end, the Visayas Command (VISCOM) sustains victory against the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army in the Visayas region, citing the continuing reduction of both manpower and armed capability of the local terrorist group.
Following the conduct of its Campaign Progress Review and Assessment (CPRA), VISCOM reports indicated that it has initiated 38 government initiated armed encounters in the Visayas region from October 1 to date, with 125 NPA terrorists neutralized, of which 81 are in Eastern Visayas, and 44 in Western and Central Visayas.
Of the 125 NPA neutralized members, 12 died in encounters – six each in Eastern and Western Visayas, while 113 others returned to the folds of the law. A total of 102 firearms and 28 anti-personnel mines were also seized by government troops.
Stressing that the CPP-NPA in the Visayas region is now on the verge of defeat, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, VISCOM chief, said that they will continue to be relentless and will never hold back, to further weaken them to a point where they can no longer recover.
Arevalo also reported that the severe loss of manpower and armed capability of the NPA led to the dismantling of four guerilla fronts in the Visayas region this year, as concurred by the National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (NJPSCC).
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division operating in Western and Central Visayas also reported the dismantling of six of the nine guerilla fronts in two regions, four of which are in Negros Island.
However, the inclusion of Central Negros 1 and 2 in the list of among the four dismantled guerilla fronts in Negros Island, which already approved by the Visayas Command, as reported by regional Army spokesman Lt. Col. J Jay Javines, has yet to be confirmed by the NJPSCC.
“We have achieved so much in our fight against terrorism. We have protected our people, sustained the peace, fostered development, and preserved the democratic way of life in the Visayas region,” Arevalo said.
“But we are not done yet, there’s still so much that needs to be done. With the help of our people, the support from the local government and other partner agencies, we will continue the fight and will keep up the momentum,” he added.
Arevalo urged CPP-NPA remnants to return to the folds of the law, before it will be too late for them.
You are fighting a losing cause. Every move you make could be your last, he warned.*
