The number of New People's Army (NPA) fighters and weapons
still in action in Western Mindanao has been
steadily decreasing, 1st Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Gerardo F.
Barrientos announced.
“The numbers of NPA members in Western
Mindanao and their firearms continue to decrease. NPA manpower in
the said region was reduced by around 10 percent while their firearm was
reduced by five percent," he said.
Barrientos attributed the decline to ongoing
"Bayanihan" peace development efforts and the 1st Infantry Division's
steady collaboration with local government units in Western
Mindanao and Misamis Occidental on security concerns and its
development implications.
Last Aug. 20, elements of the 53rd Infantry Battalion
recovered two serviceable M-16 automatic rifles with magazines and ammunition
in an arms cache located at the forested area in the tri-boundary of Zamboanga
Del Sur, Zamboanga Del Norte and Misamis Occidental.
“The discovery of the arm cache was made possible thru
timely information from the residents and former rebels who cooperated with the
unit and revealed the general location where the main regional guerilla unit of
the NPA kept their stash of weapons. Our former rebels who we had helped also
corroborated the information which was fed to our troops on the ground
resulting to the discovery of the arms cache," 53rd Infantry Battalion
commander Lt. Col. Alvin V. Luzon said.
“In addition to the two M-16 rifles, magazines and
ammunition, the troops also recovered two handheld radios, two pairs of
military uniforms and combat boots, medical paraphernalia, personal belongings
and documents with high intelligence value. It goes to show that these items
were left behind because the NPA lacks the manpower to bring it due to numerous
surrenderees and the capture of their members," he added.
In earlier encounters, the NPA have used military and police
uniforms to perform atrocities such as the raid of Municipal Police Stations of
Tigbao in Zamboanga del Sur last 2012 and Don Victoriano Chiongbian in Misamis
Occidental last 2013.
“I commend the troops involved in the discovery of arms
cache. This is another result of the good rapport of our soldiers to the
community. We facilitate the delivery of basic services such as medical
services, low cost-high impact projects, information drives among others. In
turn, the community itself abhor violence and denounce the presence of the NPA
and its armaments. The community wants peace and development. Our soldiers will
continue to protect the people to sustain the gains that we achieved,"
Barrientos said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=676616
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