Army dictates operational tempo vs. NPA in Negros

From the Visayan Daily Star (Mar 6, 2020): Army dictates operationaltempo vs. NPA in Negros

The Philippine Army is now controlling the pace and intensity of the operational situation against the New People’s Army in Negros Island, Maj. Gen Eric Vinoya, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said yesterday.

“We are now dictating the operational tempo favorable to the government security forces in the island,” Vinoya said, citing the latest accomplishment of the 62nd Infantry Battallion in Brgy Binobohan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, where two NPA assassins died, during the February 28 encounter.

However, the New People’s Army managed to retaliate on March 3 by staging an ambush in Brgy. Luz, Guihulngan City, inflicting injuries to four Army soldiers, who are now in stable condition, as reported by the military.

Aside from creating a favorable battleground for the government forces, Vinoya said in statement he issued, that the present operational tempo in Negros also brought positive results to the Negrenses, specifically the victims of NPA truthlessness.

Justice has been served for all innocent civilians with the neutralization of the SPARU (Special Partisan Unit) members, he added.

Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, 62nf Infantry Battalion commander, linked the two slain SPARU unit members to the killing of innocent civilians in Guihulngan and Canlaon City all of Negros Oriental.

Vinoya also ordered the 47th Infantry Battalion to hunt, down and never allow the CPP-NPA to regain their strength in Bohol.

The 47IB is under the supervision and control of the 3rd Infantry Division.

An Army soldier and two suspected NPA members died in an encounter in Bilar town of Bohol on February 29.

Bohol had been considered insurgency-free for over a decade. However, in 2018 there were reports about sightings of the armed men in some Bohol towns.*

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2020/March/06/topstory9.htm