Peace efforts boosted

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 18): Peace efforts boosted

 The Army’ s 3rd infantry Division will increase its operational tempo against the armed New People’s Army in Negros and Panay, and enhance its Bayanihan activities to foster the culture of peace, its new commander, Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, said.

Upon assuming the 3ID command on Tuesday, Balabad said the increase in operational tempo is to further reduce the armed capability of the NPA even if the peace and order situation in the region has improved, compared to previous years.

He said in the past several months, he noted an increase in non-traditional military activities geared towards providing livelihood opportunities to residents in the hinterland areas.

Baladad, who replaced Brig. Gen. Jonas Sumagaysay as 3ID chief, said the lack of livelihood opportunities are among main problems in Western Visayas, that contributed to the insurgency problem.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes ordered Baladad to continue the efforts of his predecessors, including Sumagaysay, while also noting the marked improvement in the peace and development campaign of the 3ID in the region.

Coballes said he is leaving it to Baladad if he will initiate some changes in the campaign against the NPA in the region. He, however, advised Baladad to sustain the momentum against the communist rebels.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of the Philippines claimed in a statement that the number of NPA red fighters with high-powered rifles is about to reach the 10,000 levels in the next few years.

The CPP statement was issued in reaction to public admission by the Armed Forces of the Philippines that it has failed to make a dent on the strength of the NPA. The AFP, however, downplayed its failure by understating the strength of the NPA at “over 4,000” members from the supposed base number of 4,384 when the AFP launched its Oplan Bayanihan campaign on January 1, 2011.

“Clearly, the AFP cannot counter the fact that, over the past years, the NPA has steadily grown in strength,” the CPP said.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/July/18/negor5.htm