By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The recently-formed Joint Task Force-Negros (JTF-Negros) revealed they will be utilizing air and naval assets from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in order to fast-track their anti-insurgency campaign. The assets are expected to complement the ground forces deployed across Negros.
JTF-Negros commander, Brigadier General Eric Vinoya, called on New People’s Army (NPA) leaders and members to surrender now or “suffer the full force of JTF-Negros.”
“If you don’t surrender, expect more combat encounters in the next few weeks as all military units in Negros will be utilized to hunt you and hit you very hard,” the military official stated.
“To save your life, you NPAs still have the chance to leave the armed movement and go back to the folds of law enjoying the true freedom and different government basic services together with your loved ones,” he added.
JTF-Negros was created last month to undertake operational control of all Negros-based AFP units.
The task force aims not only to address insurgency matters and defeat the Communist terror group but also to develop good-working relationships with other stakeholders./DGB, WDJ