Army: 54 rebels neutralized in Visayas in September

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY – Fifty-four members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the Visayas were neutralized last month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Visayas Command (Viscom) has announced.

Viscom said 12 government-initiated armed encounters were reported in September, leading to the deaths of 19 communist rebels, arrest of three others, and surrender of 32 of its members.

Government troops also seized 38 assorted firearms and nine anti-personnel mines last month.

Lieutenant General Benedict Arevalo, Viscom chief, believed the public is now aware of the evils brought by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA and have become more active in supporting the government’s internal security operations, resulting in the series of setbacks suffered by the terrorist group in the Visayas.

“Our collective efforts with the local governments in clearing the barangays from NPA infestation has gained grounds,” he said in a statement.

Viscom’s campaign against insurgency last month was highlighted by three major engagements and a mass surrender.

The first and second major engagements transpired in Bilar, Bohol and Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental through the 47th Infantry Battalion of the 302nd Infantry Brigade with 12 rebels neutralized and 12 firearms recovered.

The third engagement took place in Leon, Iloilo through the 61st Infantry Battalion under the 301st Infantry Brigade with three rebels neutralized, and two firearms recovered.

The mass surrender, Viscom said, happened in Sagay City, Negros Occidental through the 79th Infantry Battalion of the 303rd Infantry Brigade with 12 rebels, who are remnants of the dismantled NPA’s Northern Negros Front, surrendering and pledging allegiance to the government.

The group also yielded 12 firearms to the government.

Arevalo said these debacles suffered by the CPP-NPA would add up to the dwindling manpower and degrading armed capability that the group is experiencing.

“This will significantly prevent their plans to conduct atrocities and sow fear to our people in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. They are now restless and under so much pressure. They have no safe place to hide. It’s only a matter of time before we crush them and push them to the brink of irreversible collapse,” he said.

Arevalo urged the remaining CPP-NPA members to surrender.

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