79 NPA leaders killed since 2011: military

From the Sun Star-Davao (May 5): 79 NPA leaders killed since 2011: military

GOVERNMENT forces claimed that its unit neutralized 79 high-ranking leaders of the National Democratic Front-Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (NDF-CPP-NPA) from 2011 to March this year.

In a statement emailed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 5th Civil Relation Group (CRG), it said that from 2011 to 2014, 70 communist leaders were killed and arrested in a clash.

There were some rebel leaders who surrendered to the government authorities.

The nine other rebel leaders were either killed or arrested during intelligence operations conducted by military and police personnel from January 1 to March 31 this year.

AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang Jr. said these remarkable accomplishments of the government can be attributed to deliberate efforts within the ambit of the AFP's Internal Peace and Security (IPSP) Bayanihan.

"The IPSP Bayanihan is where the military and police forces jointly conduct its law enforcement operations to weaken the NDF-CPP-NPA- ideologically and organizationally," Catapang said.

Among the communist leaders arrested were Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma Austria-Tiamzon.

The Tiamzon couple was arrested along with five other rebels in a joint military and police operation conducted in Barangay Zaragosa, Aloguinsan in Cebu on March 22, 2014.

Catapang said the Tiamzon couple is now detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

He added that the Tiamzon's arrest was a big blow to the 46-year-old communist movement in the country -- the longest in Asia, and had subsequently led to a "leadership vacuum" in the NDF-CPP-NPA.

Catapang welcomed last week the suggestion of the NDF Chief Negotiator Luis Jalandoni for the resumption of peace talks.

While not objecting to the NDF's call for resumption of peace talks, AFP Community Relations Chief Joselito Kakilala questioned the sincerity of the communist movement.

"This strategy has been done many times before by the NDF-CPP-NPA, a year or so before the conduct of the presidential election," Kakilala said.

He said that Utrecht based CPP founder Jose Maria Sison and Jalandoni do not have the moral ground to lead their comrades waging an armed struggle in the localities anymore.

Jalandoni also claimed the supposed armed strength of the NPA has reached to 10,000, more than thrice the military's number which is only more or less 3,000 fighters.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2015/05/04/79-npa-leaders-killed-2011-military-405734