By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) released a report yesterday which confirms the neutralization of 122 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Negros Island this year.
Based on the breakdown, 66 of those neutralized were members of the NPA’s Central Negros 2; 39 from the Central Negros 1; 12 from the Northern Negros Front; three from the Southwest Negros Guerilla Front; and two from the Regional Operational Command of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
The two of those killed were tagged as top leaders of the KR-NCBS — Romeo “Ka Juanito Magbanua” Nanta, who was killed in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City in October; and Ericson Acosta, who was killed in an encounter in the province’s Kabankalan City earlier this month.
A total of 42 encounters took place in the 303IBde’s area of operations this year with 29 confirmed deaths, six captured, 10 arrested, and 77 surrendered among members of the NPA.
Meanwhile, 303IBde commander, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte said that due to heavy losses incurred by them this year, the NPA in Negros is facing a leadership crisis and organizational problems following the deaths of Nanta and Acosta./DGB, WDJ