NEW COMMANDER. Army Col. Inocencio Pasaporte (right), who assumed as commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Thursday (Dec. 12, 2019) meets Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson after the change of command held at the brigade headquarters. Pasaporte succeeded Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo. (PNA photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
MURCIA, Negros Occidental -- An official of the Philippine Army said aside from aggressively pursuing the armed movement of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), they will also go after the group’s money-making schemes in Negros Island.
Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, who assumed as commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) here on Thursday, said the communist-terrorist group has been earning more than PHP20 million yearly from various funding sources since five years earlier.
“We will expose their schemes. They are earning a large amount of money in Negros. They call it ‘land cultivation area’,” Pasaporte said in an interview with reporters.
He added that the amount could be more, considering that some leaders of the rebel movement have been pocketing a portion of their earnings. “There’s corruption within their ranks,” he said.
The Army official said the communist-terrorist group has also put up several small businesses as part of their money-making schemes.
“They (CPP-NPA) have long been deceiving the people of Negros. They should no longer be allowed to do that,” he added.
In his speech, Pasaporte, who succeeded Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, said the 303IB troops will go after the CPP-NPA’s support elements and their united front organizations.
“Whether aboveground or underground, these organizations, they are continuously deceiving the people of Negros. I will also give focus on that aspect,” he added.
Pasaporte said during the stint of his predecessor, the 303IB has made substantial and significant accomplishments in the field of operations.
“Most importantly, we have gained the operational tempo in our favor, in Negros Occidental,” he added.
Pasaporte said he will lead the Brown Eagle Brigade in maintaining the operational measures to sustain peace and development in his area of responsibility.
“To be able to do this, we will double our efforts to reduce further the biggest criminal syndicate being run by the minions of Joma Sison here in Negros, in terms of their manpower and firearms through our intensified and focused of operations,” he added.
The 303IB covers the northern and central parts of the island, including the first to fifth districts of Negros Occidental and the first district of Negros Oriental.
The 79th Infantry Battalion in Sagay City and the 62IB in Isabela town in Negros Occidental are under the 303IB along with the 94IB based in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088678
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