Army reduces NPA strength

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 20): Army reduces NPA strength

The Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade is running against time to accomplish its mission to clear Negros Oriental of remaining armed insurgents by yearend.

With barely four months before 2013 ends, Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday admitted that it is a “tall order” for him to accomplish, although not a remote possibility.

However, he said their task is now a “work in progress”.

Five hinterland barangays in San Jose, Amlan, Sibulan and Valencia, all in Negros Oriental, were recently declared “insurgency-free and development-ready” by the Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade.

Patrimonio said their combined barangay immersion activities, which aims to deny the New People’s Army of areas to seek shelter, and combat operations, led to the reduction of NPA from its peak of about 160 armed regulars in previous years to 102 this year.

It shows a reduction of their forces by one-third, he added.

There are still 79 barangays in southeast Negros Oriental and central Negros, aside from the 20 in the Negros Occidental side, classified either as infiltrated, or under the influence of the NPA, military records show.

But the additional forces augmenting the 302nd Infantry Brigade, Patrimonio said, will help a lot in the accomplishment of their tasks.

He said they are now focusing their efforts on Negros Oriental, before shifting to the Occidental side.

The 302nd Infantry Brigade has been tasked to dismantle the Larangan Gerilya 1 in central Negros and the Komiteng Rehiyonal Sentral Bisayas in southeast Negros.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/August/20/negor3.htm