MILITARY'S OUTREACH PROGRAM. Soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 93rd Infantry Battalion join a tree-planting activity in a upland village in Ormoc City. Participating in outreach programs is seen as one of the strategies to combat insurgency. (Photo courtesy of Army 93rd IB)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The New People’s Army (NPA) is struggling to recover its former strongholds in Leyte province, despite its intensified efforts, due to lack of support in far-flung communities, an official of the Philippine Army said.
Of the 1,393 villages in Leyte, only 178 are still affected by operations of the NPA- Leyte front committee. Seventeen had been categorized as influenced, 50 of these are less influenced, and 111 others are considered threatened.
"They are trying to beef up manpower by looking for potential recruits, but they’re not that successful as people report to us of their sightings,” said Lt. Col. Roberto Beatisula, commander of the Philippine Army’s 93rd Infantry Battalion (IB), during the provincial peace and order council meeting here on Wednesday.
Since last year, the military only recorded 16 activities of communist rebels such as movements, meetings, and extortion even if they have been exerting efforts to “recover dwindling mass bases”.
"They have been striving to conceal their movements in far-flung areas and mountainous areas of the province to avoid confrontation with government forces to preserve their ranks,” Beatisula added.
The NPA in Leyte has 75 active members with 40 classified as political and 35 as armed with light weapons.
Recently, rebels have been sighted in upland areas of Baybay City, Inopocan, Hindang, Hilongos, Mahaplag, Abuera, Burauen, La Paz, Macarthur, Ormoc City, Carigara, Jaro, Leyte, Tabango, and Calubian towns.
The latest clash in Leyte was reported on Dec. 13, 2018, when soldiers aborted a bi-annual meeting in Anislagan village, Calubian town, which was attended by 20 communist rebels.
Acting on intelligence report, two platoons raided the village and engaged the rebels in a gun battle. No one was hurt on the military side while the number of casualties on the enemy side remained undetermined.
Also recovered were mobile phones, tablets, food items, and several personal belongings of rebels.
Based in Kananga, Leyte, the military activated the 93rd IB last year to reinforce military units in the more aggressive fight against communist rebels in the region. The battalion, considered as one of the Army’s elite force, is composed of well-trained army officers and enlisted military personnel.
The military unit is just one of the 10 new battalions created nationwide as announced by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to augment the existing government forces in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.
The Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. The communist rebels have been battling government forces for 50 years. The communist rebellion in the Philippines is one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062585
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