A total of 40 New People’s Army (NPA) members were neutralized in just one month of focused military operations from April 1 to 30, an Army official said.

Lt. General Fernando Reyeg, commander of the Visayas Command (Viscom), said the number was a reflection that the NPA continues to bear significant losses due to the unified command’s relentless effort to implant peace in three central Philippine regions.

Of the number, 22 were apprehended, 16 surrendered and two died during encounters.

A total of 26 assorted firearms and an anti-personnel mine were seized during the same period.

“There will be no let-up in our efforts. We will never hold back nor will hesitate to use our full force to finally put an end to this decades-long menace that has been terrorizing our country and our people,” Reyeg said.

The Army official said Viscom stands firm in its commitment to ending the local communist armed conflict in the Visayas regions very soon.

Reyeg called upon the few remaining members of “the NPA terrorist group to learn from the mistakes of their fallen comrades and heed the call of the government to return to the folds of the law before it’s too late.” (PNA)