By CESAR JOLITO III
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) has declared that Negros Island is now free of active New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts, marking a significant milestone in the government’s decades-long counterinsurgency efforts in the region.
“We are relentlessly putting pressure on the remnants of the NPA. We are making their lives miserable in the mountains to make them realize that fighting the government with arms is futile and useless,” 3ID commander Major General Michael Samson said.
He said 3ID does not want to see more clashes occur between government troops and the NPA while wanting to avoid casualties.
Samson said the Army will sustain its security operations to ensure that insurgency does not reemerge, while also supporting local government initiatives aimed at peace, development and reintegration of former rebels.
However, he warned that they are ready to respond anytime if the NPA remnants persist in their armed struggle against the government.
The Army will continue to maintain its presence on the island even as the Armed Forces of the Philippines shifts its focus from internal security operations to external defense.
At present, two infantry brigades are stationed in Negros, supervising six battalions.
Earlier this year, the 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) reported a significant weakening of the NPA forces in northern Negros following a series of encounters, including the killing of two high-ranking NPA leaders.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Jason Jumawan formally assumed command of the 302nd IB based in Negros Oriental’s Tanjay City on August 27, replacing Brigadier General Joey Escanillas, who is now 3ID assistant division commander.
Under Escanillas’ leadership, the brigade dismantled the NPA’s South West Front and Regional Strike Force through 29 armed encounters across Negros and Bohol, neutralizing 35 rebels, including five top officials.
Since 2023, government forces have recovered 65 firearms and 15 anti-personnel mines in the area.
Earlier, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) initiated a motu proprio investigation in response to the string of killings in Negros claimed by the NPA.
The CHR noted that at least 10 civilians accused by the NPA of being military informants have been killed in Negros Occidental since March of this year.
Human rights advocates and local officials have repeatedly warned against extrajudicial executions and the targeting of civilians in conflict areas.
Authorities have yet to arrest any suspects in the recent incidents.
The military and police have condemned the NPA’s actions, branding them as terroristic attacks on non-combatants and renewed their call for the public to help put an end to the violence./ With reports from PNA / CJ, WDJ