Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo answers questions from the media after his appointment as commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Visayas Command. (FILE PHOTO)
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Military forces in the Visayas believed there was still much to be done in the fight against communist insurgency in 2024.
“As long as there are still unresolved issues in the community, the threat of resurgence will remain,” said Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Visayas Command (Viscom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in a 2023 year-end statement.
He said there would be no let up in their operation against communist rebels as they urged the remnants of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to return to the folds of the law.
“Embrace the call of our government for reconciliation and join us in welcoming the new year with hope and aspiration of lasting peace and prosperity for all our people. We will not be complacent to ensure the safety and security of our people,” Arevalo said.
From Jan. 1 to Dec. 30, Viscom reported that 162 government-initiated armed encounters transpired throughout the Visayas region, about 80 of which occurred in Eastern Visayas and 82 in Central and Western Visayas regions.
These encounters led to the arrest of 523 rebels and the death of 84 others.
A total of 441 assorted firearms were also seized during the period, the report said.
According to Viscom, about 20 mass organizations with links to the NPA had been co-opted while 17 alleged “sectoral front organizations” of the rebels were dismantled over the year, paving the way for the dissolution of five guerrilla fronts in 2023, as affirmed by the National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center.
These dismantled guerrilla fronts operated in the Central Visayas provinces of Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor, the Viscom said.
Arevalo lauded the troops for their unrelenting efforts to end the local communist armed conflict in the Visayas.
“This significant progress in our fight against the CPP-NPA is not only an accomplishment of the AFP but also the accomplishment of all the peace-loving people in the Visayas region,” he said.
He added: “It is through their active support and collaboration that led us to this milestone. Our people’s longing for peace remains our driving force and motivation in performing our mandate to the highest level of efficacy.”