Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City – As the Barangay and SK Elections nears, the CPP-NPA absorbs a crushing defeat following the sustained focused military operations of the Visayas Command (VISCOM) in the entire Visayas region.
It was revealed that for the month of September alone, 12 government-initiated armed encounters transpired in the entire region. These led to the neutralization of 54 NPA terrorists; 19 of whom died during encounters, 32 returned to the folds of the law while three (3) were apprehended. The government troops also seized 3)1 assorted firearms and nine (9) anti-personnel mines for the period.
Lieutenant General Benedict M Arevalo, the Commander of VISCOM emphasized that “Our collective efforts with the local government units in clearing the barangays from NPA infestation has gained grounds. The people are now aware of the evils brought by the CPP-NPA and they have become more active in supporting our internal security operations resulting in the series of setbacks suffered by the terrorist group throughout the Visayas region.”
VISCOM’s campaign for September was highlighted with three (3) major engagements and a mass surrender. The first and second major engagements transpired in Bilar, Bohol and Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental through the efforts of the 47th Infantry Battalion of the 302nd Infantry Brigade tallying a total of 12 NPA terrorists neutralized with 12 firearms recovered. The third major engagement transpired in Leon, Iloilo through the efforts of the 61st Infantry Battalion under the 301st Infantry Brigade with three (3) NPA terrorists neutralized, and two (2) firearms recovered.
Meanwhile, the mass surrender transpired in Sagay City, Negros Occidental through the efforts of the 79th Infantry Battalion of the 303rd Infantry Brigade with 12 NPA terrorists who are remnants of the dismantled NPA’s Northern Negros Front (NNF) returning to the folds of the law and pledged their allegiance to the government. The group also yielded 12 assorted firearms to the government troops as they surrendered.
“These debacles suffered by the CPP-NPA will add up to the dwindling manpower and degrading armed capability that the terrorist group is suffering. This will significantly deter their plans to conduct atrocities and sow fear to our people in the upcoming Barangay and SK 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,” Lt Gen Arevalo further emphasized.
He concluded as he urged the few remaining members of the CPP-NPA to return to the folds of the law, “We will remain persistent in our call to the few remaining members of the CPP-NPA to abandon their terror ways. We urged them to lay down their arms, learn from the mistakes of their fallen comrades, and heed the call of the government for genuine peace and reconciliation. For we will never back down, and will never waver in our efforts in pursuing peace for our people.”
