The Philippine Army in Negros Oriental is in the process of evaluating its insurgency operations in the past year to determine whether the province is already cleared of the problem even as a six-month extension has been sought with the hierarchy.
Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, has disclosed that initial evaluation, however, shows that there is still a number of areas in the province that are affected by the insurgency problem with the presence of the rebel New People’s Army (NPA).
However, the Philippine Army is also gaining ground in its efforts to clear the province of insurgency, with the growing number of rebel returnees recorded in the previous year as well as continued efforts by Bayanihan Action Teams in particular barangays, according to Patrimonio.
Bayanihan Teams conduct non-combat operations under the government’s counter-insurgency peace plan as a means to encourage communities to shun the rebel movement.
Of the 17 barangays in the province earlier tagged as insurgency-affected, 12 have already been neutralized and will be up for validation prior to declaring these as cleared of the insurgency problem, said Patrimonio.
The five remaining barangays, however, continue to be threatened by the presence of the armed NPA, two of which are Nagbinlod and Talalac in Sta. Catalina town in the south, and the three others in Guihulngan City in northern Negros Oriental, including among them Barangay Sandayao, Patrimonio added.
The Army general admitted some contributing factors to the Army’s inability to reach their zero-insurgency target in Negros Oriental by the end of 2013.
These include the continued presence of armed NPA rebels in an area and their elusiveness and always being on the run despite pressure applied by the military, he explained.
According to Patrimonio, the main criteria in declaring a barangay as insurgency-free is the neutralization of an armed group although not necessarily having to kill its members but the group ceases to exist as a threat to the government and that they no longer carry firearms.
Patrimonio vowed the Philippine Army will continue to look for the NPA rebels despite their persistence to survive amid relentless military operations.
He also claimed that the NPA in Negros Oriental is dwindling in numbers, firearms and mass support.
The military official also lauded the support of the local government units in area where insurgency still remains to be a problem.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=602328
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