BUTUAN CITY – The New People’s Army (NPA), armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is no longer capable of mounting large-scale operations — a local insurgency situation that is leading government peacekeepers into declaring the province of Agusan del Norte as already a “conflict-manageable and ready for further development (CMRFD)” area.
This was recently bared by a ranking ground Army commander during a year-end press forum at the region’s premier and capital city of Butuan.
“Yes, we are set to declare soon Agusan del Norte as insurgency-free,” stressed Col. Alexander L. Macario, commanding officer of the Army’s 401st Infantry (Unite N’ Fight) Brigade.The ranking Army commander in the area also disclosed that rebel unit operating within the so-called “guerrilla zones” in the province has dwindled to only a handful of demoralized combatants not capable of major anti-government operations.
“The remaining small-unit of NPAs hit and run atrocities is just to show their presence in the area. . . to implement their unlawful force taxation but not anymore capable to stage large-scale operation,” claimed the ground Army commander.
Col. Macario assured that “this small band of NPAs in the area will soon be crushed”.
The 401st Brigade along with some combat maneuvering battalions spread all over the Agusan province and its cities, is assigned to the internal security of the province by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from the threats of NPA uprising which since 45 years ago until lately had destabilized the local peace and order situation.
Col. Macario said the weakening and demoralization of the NPA Agusan del Norte units were due to the massive military operations, peace and development program that resulted in the recent clearing of the remaining far-flung barangays that served as the rebels’ last stand and the fall to the hands of lawmen of some of their prominent leaders.
In that same press forum last week, Maj. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao, commanding general of the AFP Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID) also declared that the government’s all-out peace and development drive against the communist insurgency is gaining headway in Mindanao as more regular fighters of the NPA gave themselves up to government while other top communist officials were captured in 4th ID area of responsibility (AOR).
He said 43 former NPA regular fighters with their 29 firearms returned to the mainstream society recently and received cash support and livelihood programs from the government through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).
“We’re gaining headway,” declared Gen. Lactao on Wednesday.
Among the significant accomplishment of the AFP is the arrest of top CPP-NPA officials this year, he said.
Gen. Lactao cited the arrest of Rone Mae Callao, alias “Dianne/Iram”, secretary of guerilla-Front Committee 30-A and regional financial staff and medical staff of CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee; and Teresita Olarte, alias “Maya”, head of medic of the North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee, both in September this year.
“All in all for the whole year 2015, we have a total of 126 NPA captured, killed during combat operations while also seized 269 assorted firearms and several war materials including subversive documents with high intelligence value, during 226 combat operations, “ the area commander of the AFP in Mindanao said.
“We also cleared 76 barangays that were former stronghold of the NPA,” Gen. Lactao pointed out.
In the normalization process, out of eight provinces in Regions 13 and 10, only four remaining provinces are undergoing normalization process, he said.
“On February 10 this year, the provinces of Camiguin and Siargao Islands were declared as insurgency free while the province of Surigao del Norte as peaceful and ready for further development last Sept. 20, also this year,” the 4th ID chief added.
http://www.mb.com.ph/afp-ready-to-declare-agusan-del-norte-insurgency-under-manageable-level/
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