New People’s Army (NPA) | INQUIRER.net file photo
ILOILO CITY — The military has ramped up its surveillance of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Panay Island, making it more challenging for the rebels to regroup and after three of their top leaders were killed.
Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s Third Infantry Division (3ID), said a “leadership vacuum” was hounding members of the NPA on Panay Island after a string of anti-insurgency operations by the government troops from July 29 to Aug. 31.
“Even if they find a replacement, it will be challenging as we are closely monitoring their movements,” he added.
From July 29 to Aug. 31, military forces conducted 14 operations that led to the killings of three NPA officials.
Among the fatalities were Maria Concepcion Araneta Bocala, also known as Concha, the first deputy secretary of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay (KR-P); Vivian Torato Teodosio, aka Minerva, secretary of the Central Front, KR-P; and Vicente Hinojales, aka Arjie, the regional secretary of KR-P.
Bocala, Teodosio, and Hinojales were killed on Aug. 15 in a firefight with the 82nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao, Iloilo.
Hinojales, a native of North Cotabato, who moved to Panay in 2017, was believed to be part of the group that clashed with soldiers in previous encounters in Barangay Cabatangan on Aug. 7 and in Barangay Aglonok in the adjacent town of Calinog on Aug. 5 and 8.
The Army said Hinojales was wanted for a string of criminal cases in Agusan del Sur, including arson, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention.
He was also linked to the 2017 raid of a local police station and the ambush of a police vehicle in Maasin town, Iloilo.
Bocala, on the other hand, had a P5.3-million bounty on her head for murder and was a prominent figure in the NPA. She was arrested in 2015 but released in 2016 to participate in the peace talks between the government and the NPA in Norway.
When the peace talks were suspended in February 2017 by then-President Duterte, she went underground and did not attend the court hearings for her case.
The Philippine Army seized 30 firearms during the month-long operations.
Brigadier General Michael Samson, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, renewed his call for remaining NPA members to lay down their arms, warning that the military would not relent in its campaign against insurgency.
He also commended the local governments and various stakeholders in Iloilo for their collaborative efforts in promoting peace and encouraging rebel surrenders.
“The local government units in Iloilo have been very helpful and cooperative in attaining peace and order. Their efforts in helping us facilitate the rebels’ surrender are greatly appreciated,” Samson said.