NPA rebels try to regain lost strength in Bataan, Pampanga

From the Manila Bulletin (Feb 27): NPA rebels try to regain lost strength in Bataan, Pampanga

The New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were trying to regain their lost strength in the industrial province of Bataan, but government troopers have vowed to foil it.

The army leadership has assured that they will not allow the resurgence of NPA rebels in this province and nearby Pampanga.

 

Determination is etched on the face of this New People’s Army (NPA) combatant in a show of force by the communist rebels during a news conference held at a guerilla encampment in the Sierra Madre mountains, November 23. (AP | Manila Bulletin)

During the recent Peace and Order Council (POC) meeting held inside the 1Bataan Headquarters in Orani, Bataan, Col. Ramil Anoyo, Commanding Officer of the army’s 48th infantry battalion, said that the rebels were trying to encroach Bataan and neighboring Pampanga in their bid to regain their strength in these two provinces in Central Luzon

Col. Anoyo’s action came in the wake of reported three sightings in Pag asa, Orani town last February 13, where eight armed men were seen roaming around the forested area.

On February 8, another sightings of three armed men were also reported in Bilolo, Orion town while last January 12, two armed men were also sighted in Maligaya, Dinalupihan town.

But Anoyo said that they will continue to conduct operations against the rebels “in order to preserve an environment inhospitable to the armed threat that will compel them (NPA) to abandon their armed struggle.”

Anoyo said however that these sightings were subjected to validation since Bataan had been declared by the army leadership free of insurgents.

Gov. Abet Garcia, Chairman of POC, thanked the army as he offered support for the soldiers to maintain an atmosphere of peace in this industrial province.

The governor wanted to preserve the peaceful environment of Bataan, now becoming one of the preferred investments place in the region with the pouring in of various investors-local and foreign.

To prevent the rebels from encroaching Bataan, Anoyo said that they will put up another army detachment in Dinalupihan town to ensure that the rebels cannot against infiltrate Bataan, once their (rebels) bailiwick in late 80s.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/02/27/npa-rebels-try-to-regain-lost-strength-in-bataan-pampanga/