‘NPA strength down 75 percent in NegOr'

From the Visayan Daily Star (Mar 25): ‘NPA strength down 75 percent in NegOr'

The armed strength of the New People's Army in southern Negros Oriental, that allegedly reached its peak of 93 red fighters in 2010, has been reported by the 302 nd Infantry Brigade to have been reduced to 28 fighters as of December last year, posting a reduction by about 75 percent.

Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 302 nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the NPA in southern Negros Oriental is diminishing and losing its grasp on its mass base.

Patrimonio said the latest encounter between 79 th Infantry Battalion soldiers, led by 1Lt. Mark Anthony Calamba, and about 15 NPA fighters in Sitio Malangsa, Brgy. Mantiquil, Siaton, Negros Oriental, was a product of information from residents in the area.

Army soldiers were approaching an abandoned house near the encounter site, when they were fired at by rebels, triggering a running gunbattle, Capt. Cresencio Gargar, 302 nd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations officer, said.

The firefight lasted for almost five minutes, and the rebels withdrew in separate directions. No casualty was reported on the government side. Empty shells and kitchen utensils were found at the encounter site.

Patrimonio said the latest encounter will continue to put the NPA rebels on the run, further exhaust and force them to abandon the armed struggle.

Before the encounter, seven rebels who surrendered to the 11 th Infantry Battalion were given financial assistance by Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, through the efforts of its commander, Lt. Col. Wilfredo Isaac.

Patrimonio attributed the decrease in strength of the NPA in southern Negros Oriental to their sustained combat operations and deployment of Bayanihan teams in conflict-affected communities.

The teams are immersed in conflict-affected barangays and helping facilitate the resolution of primary issues usually exploited by the NPA.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/March/25/negor1.htm