The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) ordered Army troops to focus on their efforts to end the insurgency in Negros Island by hunting down remnants of the defunct rebel fronts.

“We must not rest on our laurels. We shall not relax,” 3ID commander Major General Marion Sison said during his series of visits to the 15th, 47th, 62nd, 79th Infantry Battalions, and 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) recently.

“We shall incessantly conduct focused military operations and counter Communist Terrorist Groups [CTG] urban operations to attain our goal of ending the insurgency by the end of the year,” he added.

Sison said Army troops are tasked to prevent the logistical and financial support coming from the CTG operations for the armed rebels, which could recover and regain influence over previously cleared communities.

“We shall do these to protect and sustain our gains of a Stable Internal Peace and Security status on Negros Island,” Sison said.

“Ending insurgency and finishing our mission in internal security operations is crucial as we posture ourselves for the territorial defense operations,” the 3ID commander added.

Following their success in combat operations in Negros, Sison said their efforts must now be devoted to countering CTG operations through the reorientation and redirection of CTG affiliated mass organizations and cooptation of sectoral front organizations and other organizations in local government units, as the 3ID has been committed to achieving victory over CTG remnants in Negros.

“I urge you to maintain this high standard of discipline at all times,” Sison said.

“We must not destroy this trust. We should not be remiss in our duties to protect the people,” he added.

Sison said, in July, most guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros had been dismantled by the military.

Among the dismantled NPA fronts were the Northern Negros Front, Central Negros 1 and 2, South West Front, and the Regional Striking Force of Komiteng Rehiyonal.

However, there are five NPA remnants that are still being monitored by the authorities.

“We will finish them. We will eradicate them in order for Negros Occidental to really have that peace, progress and development,” Sison said.

In a recent report, the 303IBde said the NPA remnants, reported to be roaming around hinterland areas in Negros, where the presence of government troops is minimal, continue to evade military operations.

The remnants are now struggling to recover following a series of encounters in the past months, the 303IBde said in a statement.

Every guerrilla front, including their regional striking force, has five to nine remaining armed members, it added./WDJ