The
operations of the New People’s Army (NPA) in northern Negros Occidental,
particularly in the area of Escalante
City
Col.
Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said that from three
platoons of armed fighters in the past years, only one remains in the area.
This
is a result of one and half years of sustained military operations in
cooperation with the Philippine National Police, Aying said.
Aying
said the remaining platoon-sized unit of the NPA in the north has split into
four small groups to avoid detection.
The
Provincial Peace and Integration Development Unit (Pro-PIDU), in cooperation
with the Philippine Army and PNP, among other groups, is currently conducting a
15-day civil-humanitarian activities in six far-flung villages of Escalante,
Toboso and Calatrava.
Lt.
Col. Efren Morados, commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion based in
Escalante, said they have observed that the NPA has been avoiding confrontation
with patrolling soldiers.
The
last encounter in the area was recorded last January.
The
NPA Jean Pelle Command, however, denied in an earlier press statement the
military’s pronouncement that their forces are weakening.
Eighty-nine
NPA rebels have surrendered to the military in Negros Occidental since 2011.
Some
of those who turned over their firearms and availed of the Armed Forces’ Guns
for Peace program and received livelihood and financial assistance from the
provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Five
rebel returnees in Negros Occidental received P320,000 from the Armed Forces of
the Philippines
Rebel
returnees Erving Biñas, Felizardo Pineda Jr., Eugence Almojero and Evonie
Baynosa were granted P210,000 last June 12.
Baynosa
is a former vice-commanding officer of the Northern Negros Front Sentro De
Grabidad Platoon.
The
first recipient in Negros Occidental was Elizalde Martisano, a former squad
leader and political officer of the Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of the NPA South
West Front.
He
was awarded P110,000 in cash last May after turning over an M-16 rifle and
three Mossberg 12 gauge shotguns with 23 rounds of ammunition.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=541398
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.