Military vows to sustain drive vs. NPAs

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 19): Military vows to sustain drive vs. NPAs

The military vowed to sustain efforts and initiatives to weaken and neutralize communist insurgents in Western Visayas.

“We will sustain the grounds gained by our internal peace and security operations,” said Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, newly installed commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).

Guerrero said he will continue the programs of his predecessor, Major Aurelio Bladed, to reduce the strength of New People’s Army (NPA) in Western Visayas as well as in two provinces in Central Visayas.  During Baladad’s tenure, 68 NPA rebels were neutralized.

It was also during Baladad’s term that Negros Oriental province was declared as a conflict-manageable area.

The 3ID is pushing to replicate the conflict-manageable declaration in Negros Occidental province, where communist insurgency remains to be a problem.

Capiz and Iloilo provinces are also priority areas in terms of clearing communist insurgency.

Guerrero reiterated that the key in defeating communist insurgency is public-private partnership.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners and stakeholders so that social and economic issues in the community can be appropriately and swiftly addressed,” Guerrero said.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old rebel who joined the communist movement as a teenager surrendered earlier this week.

1st Lieutenant Leo Francisco, chief of the 3ID’s 31st Civil Military Operation, only identified the former rebel as “Eric” of Maayon town, Capiz.

Eric served as assistant medical officer of the Southern Eastern Committee of the NPA in Panay Island.

http://www.mb.com.ph/military-vows-to-sustain-drive-vs-npas/