Army says war for ‘hearts, minds’ now crucial

LUCENA CITY—The battle for the people’s hearts and minds has taken a key spot in the Southern Luzon Command’s (Solcom) fight to end the communist insurgency in the region, according to the command’s head.

Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, Solcom chief, said the arrest of several top leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) in southern Luzon had also helped the military gain ground against the longest running Maoist insurgency in the world.

He said the victories won by the military against communist guerrillas had given the armed forces time to focus on winning hearts and minds.

“We now have lots of time to help the needs of the civilian population and their communities,” he said.

Among the captured top NPA leaders in Southern Tagalog were Tirso “Ka Bart” Alcantara, Darwin “Ka Tacho” Liwag and Gilberto “Ka Tigas” Esguerra and Alvin “Ka Bong” Orpiada in Bicol, said Detabali.

He said a total of 84 guerrillas had surrendered, each receiving P50,000 in funds to help them return to the mainstream of society.

Quoting a Solcom report, Detabali said 105 rebels in southern Luzon were captured, killed in encounters or surrendered to the government in 2011.