By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) said there will be no ceasefire with the insurgents of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental this holiday season.
Brigadier General Orlando Edralin, 303IBde commander, said they will continue their anti-insurgency operations throughout the period to assure residents that the province will remain peaceful during the holidays.
“They can run, but they cannot hide,” Edralin warned the insurgents.
Despite the warnings, he said the door for surrender will remain open.
“[The] door remains open for the NPA rebels to return to the folds of law, just like what the 42 former rebels did, who also availed of early Christmas gifts on Monday, [December 18],” he said.
Edralin said the recent encounters in Negros Occidental’s Binalbagan town and Himamaylan City were products of real-time information from the residents.
Earlier, the NPA’s Roselyn Jean Pelle Command in northern Negros Occidental claimed responsibility for the killing of three individuals in Calatrava town.
Edralin said the killings are a manifestation of how “barbaric” they are.
He believed that the group wanted to show the government forces that they were still a force to reckon with.
Data released by government forces revealed that the insurgents are struggling badly due to their dwindling numbers and the increasing opposition against their actions among the populace.
Meanwhile, the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) reported that for this year, 90 armed engagements led to the neutralization of 236 NPA leaders and members in the Visayas.
At least 57 had been killed in encounters, 164 surrendered, 15 were apprehended, and 192 assorted guns were recovered.
Lt. Colonel J-jay Javines, 3ID spokesperson, said 341 former rebels also received financial and livelihood assistance from local government units and the national government./DGB, WDJ