46 CAFGUs beef up security vs NPA in Aurora

At least 46 paramilitary troops have been deployed to Aurora to help the Philippine Army fight the New People’s Army there. (Photo courtesy of Fort Magsaysay)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The Philippine Army on Tuesday (Oct. 12) reported deploying at least 46 paramilitary troops to Aurora province to pursue supposed remnants of the New People’s Army there.

The members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) under the Active Auxiliary (CAA) were sent off last Oct.  9, the 7th Infantry Division said in a statement from Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

The CAFGU finished a 45-day basic military training to “beef up security” and “eliminate” the remaining members of the NPA’s guerrilla front Sierra Madre, according to Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, 91st Infantry Battalion commander.

Rubio said the CAA is an “essential component of our administrative and operational clear-hold-support methodology, an important element in winning our counterinsurgency campaign in protecting the communities and the people from the coercive and abusive acts of the CTGs [communist terrorist groups].”

The last known intensified operations in Aurora were in September last year when soldiers clashed with members of the Southern Tagalog  Regional Party Committee.