After killing 10 New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents in military operations, capturing another 29, decommissioning 727 members of Kapatiran para sa Progresibong Panlipunan last year, the Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said they are targeting 79 NPA rebels currently operating across Panay.
During a press conference last Friday, 3ID spokesperson, Army Captain Cenon Pancito III, explained, of the 79 insurgents, 28 are members of the Southern Front Committee, 36 from the Central Front Committee, and 15 belong to the Eastern Front Committee.
He also pointed out, military officials seized 107 firearms and 38 anti-personnel landmines; destroyed 18 rebels encampments; and welcomed 259 former members of the Militia ng Bayan, a division of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA (CPP-NPA).
“With our remarkable achievements through Executive Order 70, the institutionalization of the whole-of-nation approach in ending local Communist armed conflict, I am looking forward to a stronger and more productive collaboration with different government agencies, stakeholders, and the whole Visayan community towards the sustainment of peace and progress in the region,” he added.
Meanwhile, 3ID commander, Brigadier General Eric Vinoya, said they will be intensifying offensive operations.
“I am reiterating my persistent call to the remaining leaders and members of the rebels to surrender before they will be hit by the full force of the Joint Task Force,” the military commander stated. “This 2020, the Communist terrorists can expect more intensified combat operations against them for we are serious in fulfilling every Visayan’s desire for the CPP-NPA and violence-free community.”
“As we intensify all of our military operations, with the assurance of putting the primacy of human rights and the peace process on top of it, we are also doubling our efforts for localized peace talks as our means of ending the decades-long Communist armed conflict,” he added./WDJ