NPA strength declines in Bicol, Southern Tagalog

From the Bicol Mail (Oct 23): NPA strength declines in Bicol, Southern Tagalog

The Philippine Army’s Southern Luzon Command has reported a continuing decline of the true strength of the New People’s Army in Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions, according to an emailed statement sent to Bicol Mail Friday last week.

Major Angelo Guzman, Army spokesperson based in Camp Nakar in Lucena City, said the present estimated strength of the NPA in terms of number of combatants and firearms in the areas of Southern Luzon Command was established after the third quarter assessment of the Internal Peace and Security Operations (IPSO) on Oct. 7.

“Major Gen. Ricardo R. Visayas, commanding general, expressed optimism that the Southern Tagalog and Bicol Regions are nearing normalization by June 2016, as number of NPAs continues to drop since the implementation of counterinsurgency program dubbed ‘Bayanihan’ in Jan. 2011,” Guzman said.

According to the records of the Army, the strength of the NPA in the two regions has declined from 773 combatants in 2011 to 526 as of Q3 of 2014, while their firearms were reduced from 771 pieces to 607 during the same period.

The number of affected barangays also decreased from 368 in 2011 to 270 at present.

Guzman said the data showed the Army’s continuing victory and gaining of trust and confidence of the people that he said resulted from social pressure and arrest of top NPA leaders.

He cited the apprehension of certain Dionisio Almonte a.k.a.
Inol who was collared in Valenzuela City last January 14.

“Almonte is the sub-regional committee secretary of the NPA in Southern Tagalog. In Bicol, the Army captured an NPA leader named Florentino Pura a.k.a. Soling on March 13,” Guzman disclosed.

In an interview on Oct 2, Lt. Gen. Virgilio O. Domingo, AFP deputy chief of staff (or the third highest ranking official of the AFP), said the AFP targets to turn over the maintenance of peace and security to the local governments and the PNP in 2016.

“But we will continue to support the local governments and the PNP in their concerns and needs in maintaining peace and security in their areas,” Domingo added, as he projected the communist insurgency to have waned to an insignificant force.

He lauded success in the present counterinsurgency program, the so-called Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” for ridding communities of the influence of communist rebels, the longest running communist insurgency in the world.

Domingo, who graced the 10th founding anniversary of 9th Infantry Division Wednesday last week, said they have already identified provinces in the country that were once bases of communist rebels but are now ready for development because of peaceful environment.

“We expect that at the end of 2016 we can give to all the local government units all over the nation the responsibility of maintaining the internal security of the communities,” he said.

But Domingo qualified that by that time, there are still small groups of the communist insurgents that the AFP will focus its attention.

Domingo said the AFP still hopes for a political solution to the communist insurgency problem through peace talks with the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.

“It is hard to attain progress if there are forces against the government in our nation,” he said.

Guzman said they have identified 33 provinces in the country targeted for ‘normalization.’

He said the provinces are located in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and eastern part of Mindanao, where the AFP is concentrating its forces and ready to add more [personnel and equipment] if needed.

“As of now we have sufficient forces to address the requirements of ‘normalizing’ the situation of the 33 provinces which will make us (AFP) achieve our mission in our timeline,” he said.

Guzman said ‘normalized provinces’ would mean that the presence and influence of the communist rebels had been reduced significantly, neutralizing their capacity to launch attacks and threaten communities.

“By the time, the AFP foresees the communist insurgents in ‘survival mode’ resorting to criminal activities and losing their ideology,” he said.

According to the IPSP “Bayanihan” target, the AFP hopes to see to it that “the capabilities of the internal armed threats are reduced to a level that they can no longer threaten the stability of the state and civil authorities and ensure the safety and well-being of the Filipinos.”

http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=18239