Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City – The CPP-NPA suffered devastating blows in February, as the Visayas Command (VISCOM) sweeps the entire Visayas region in its efforts to neutralize the remnants of the terrorist group.
VISCOM’s two joint task forces, the Joint Task Force Spear (JTF Spear) and Joint Task Storm (JTF Storm) with the support of its component units, Naval Forces Central (NFC) of the Phil. Navy and Tactical Operations Wing Central (TOWCEN) of the Phil. Air Force accounted for 21 armed encounters against the CPP-NPA throughout the Visayas region.
These led to the neutralization of 30 NPA terrorists; 14 of whom died during encounters, 15 returned to the folds of the law and one was apprehended.
Likewise, 47 firearms were recovered during the period, 34 of which were high-powered.
Lieutenant General Benedict M Arevalo PA, the Commander of VISCOM emphasized that amidst the significant gains that they have achieved for this month, their mission is not yet over.
“We may have achieved significant gains in our campaign this month but there’s still more that needs to be done. Our forces are now focused on preventing the resurgence of the CPP-NPA in the Visayas by neutralizing the few remaining members of the terrorist group,” he said.
It was also disclosed that of the 30 NPA terrorists that were neutralized, three of whom were high-value personalities, Rolando Caballera aka Chow/Brooks, a member of the NPA’s Regional Executive Committee in Eastern Visayas who died during the encounter in Albuera, Leyte on February 10; Domingo Compoc aka Cobra/Silong, the top NPA leader in Bohol who died during the encounter in Bilar, Bohol on February 23 and the most recent, Rena Rhea Camariosa aka Kira/Sheena, the 2nd Deputy Secretary of the NPA’s Southern Panay Front, who was left to die by his comrades following an encounter with the government forces in San Joaquin, Iloilo.
“The success of our campaign in its early stage this year is attributed to the active support of our people, having freed them from the clutches of the terrorist group last year,” he added.
This is the reason why we cannot stop. We must and we will sustain our gains, for it is through the call of our people to end the CPP-NPA in the region that we strive and will remain committed to our mandate of ending the local communist armed conflict, the soonest possible time,” Arevalo said.
He also emphasized that they will not hesitate to use their full might to achieve their objective: “We have the manpower and the resources. As what the terrorist group has experienced in the recent skirmishes these past few days, is that we will not hesitate to use our full military might to achieve our objective.”
It can be recalled that during the series of nine encounters in Escalante City, Negros Occidental on February 22, two Agusta Westland 109 Attack Helicopters were utilized to deliver precision air strikes to the remnants of the dismantled NPA’s Northern Negros Front.
Likewise, during the encounter in San Joaquin, Iloilo on February 28, the Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) 155mm self-propelled gun was utilized to subdue the strong resistance of the remnants of the NPA’s Southern Panay Front.
Arevalo then reiterated his plea to the remnants of the CPP-NPA to return to the folds of the law: “Your leaders continuously fall to the hands of the government troops. The people despise your presence, and you have seen what we are willing to offer to subdue your resistance.”
“Embrace the call of the government and learn from the mistakes of your fallen comrades. Return to the folds of the law now while you still have the chance,” he said.
