NPA recruiting, says Army official

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 22): NPA recruiting, says Army official

The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, Maj. Gen. Jon Aying, has confirmed recently that the New People's Army is doing massive recruitment in Negros, but stressed he is confident that their membership does not reach 300, due to “the economics of war”.

He said recruitment would mean additional resources, but the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is, at this time, dependent only on extortion activities.

Extortion activities of the CPP/NPA are confirmed in all levels, even the poorest of the poor in hinterland communities, and barangay captains are victimized, he said.

He also does not discount the possibility that they get their money from illegal drugs. Aying said extortion activities of the CPP/NPA had to be stopped and the only way to do it is for “the prospects to refuse the collection activity”.

Aying said that “as soon as our forces in Mindanao are back, we will teach them a lesson again; this time will be harder and more regretful for them.”

With the pronouncement of the President of additional 20,000 troops for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and additional 10,000 policemen, Aying said in three year's time, there will be enough forces for stability all over the Philippines and by then the whole nation's approach will be stronger than ever.

Aying was guest of honor at the 11 th anniversary of the 79th Infantry Masaligan Battalion, headed by Lt. Col. Roderick Garcia, at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, meanwhile, congratulated the 79th IB, to whom he relied on in sustaining the peace in the province, in cooperation with the Philippine National Police, non-government and civil society organizations.

Through Bayanihan activities, the number of insurgents in the southeast front, from the second to the third district, has drastically declined since 2011, and this led to the declaration of Negros Oriental as conflict manageable and development-ready province.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2017/August/22/negor2.htm