The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division is doubling their time to solve the insurgency in Panay and Negros islands.
Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander, said that their offensive operations still continue and they are now doubling their time in response to the call of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Andres Centino to end the 52-year communist insurgency in the country by the time President Rodrigo Duterte’s term ends on June 30, 2022.
“Actually patuloy ang ating campaign to end the insurgency. We are now doubling our time to solve this problem. Ang mga sunod-sunod na encounters at mga pag-surrender or pagkahuli ng mga rebelde ‘yan ang ating ginagawa na paraan,” Arevalo said.
He said that the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are given three options – to die in an encounter, capture and surrender.
Arevalo, however, said that surrender is the best option and stop engaging in an encounter.
He encouraged the NPA rebels to surrender to avail of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program that provides financial assistance and livelihood to those who are willing to start a new life.
Centino earlier addressed his order to all division chiefs across the country to solve the insurgency in their respective area of responsibility.
“As your Chief of Staff, I am taking the lead in this final push of our campaign. I enjoin everyone to maintain our momentum, sustain our gains and remain victorious. Let us finish the local armed conflict within the President’s term. As the Armed Forces of the Filipino people, we shall not fail them in their desire of having a peaceful and secure society,” Centino said during the yearend command conference at the AFP general headquarters.
He directed AFP commanders to intensify their operations against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army through intelligence-driven combat operations aiming to destroy the rebels’ leadership, cut off their source of funds and disrupt their logistics support.
In Panay and Negros islands, Arevalo said so far they were able to control the movements of the rebels that resulted to encounters, seizure of firearms and IED, and death of their members.
Their biggest accomplishment in Panay was the death of 16 rebels including three rebels in an encounter on December 1, 2021 in Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao, Iloilo, Arevalo added. (Ruby Silubrico)/WDJ