Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City – The Visayas Command (VISCOM) shows that they are dead serious about ending the local communist armed conflict in the Visayas the soonest possible time, as it flexes its might in delivering a crushing blow against the CPP-NPA in Iloilo.
In the recent armed encounter in San Joaquin, Iloilo on February 28 between the members of the 61st Infantry Battalion and the remnants of the NPA’s Southern Panay Front (SPF), the government troops met heavy resistance as they engaged the terrorist group who were in a vantage position and with a force of around 20 fully armed NPAs.
The situation prompted the ground troops to call for artillery fire support before advancing to prevent or minimize casualties on the part of the government.
To ensure high precision in delivering artillery fires, the Army’s newly acquired Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) 155mm self-propelled gun was utilized. It was supported by a surveillance plane to further enhance its accuracy in target acquisition and monitor the impact of the indirect fires.
Lieutenant General Benedict M Arevalo PA, the Commander of VISCOM emphasized “The ATMOS is by far the largest arsenal that we have here in the Visayas region. It can deliver accurate fires to a range of up to 41 km. These arsenals were given and we will not hesitate to use them, especially when the safety of our troops is at risk.”
True enough, after delivering a series of artillery fires to the location of the terrorist group, the heavy resistance crumbled as they withdrew in disarray leaving behind their fallen comrades while allowing the government troops to advance.
After the encounter, three (3) NPA terrorists were neutralized and several war materiel and personal belongings were recovered, including five (5) firearms composed of four (4) M16 rifles, and one (1) AK47 assault rifle.
“The use of these precise and highly sophisticated weaponry is a clear manifestation that indeed we are dead serious in neutralizing the remnants of the CPP-NPA and In ending the local communist armed conflict here in the Visayas region. We have achieved tremendous gains these past few days and we intend to sustain this, as we further intensify our focused military operations to bring down the terrorist group and end their decades-long menace in this part of the country,” Lt Gen Arevalo added.
It can be recalled that on February 22, VISCOM through Joint Task Force Spear launched a precision air strike using two (2) Agusta Westland 109 Attack Helicopter during the series of encounters between members of the 79th Infantry Battalion and the remnants of the NPA’s Northern Negros Front. Three (3) NPA terrorists were neutralized during the said operation and a total of 20 firearms were recovered; 16 of which were high-powered.
Lt Gen Arevalo then urged the few remaining members of the CPP-NPA to embrace the call of the government and return to the folds of the law, “We know that you are tired and weary, and we know that your morale is now down to your knees. You cannot neither run nor hide from the government. Choose the path of peace and embrace the call of our government to return to the folds of the law before it’s too late.”
