54 NPA rebels neutralized, 38 guns seized in Visayas

From the Visayan Daily Star (Oct 4, 2023): 54 NPA rebels neutralized, 38 guns seized in Visayas (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command reported that it neutralized 54 suspected New People’s Army rebels, of which 19 had been killed in various encounters with Army soldiers in the Visayas for the month of September.

Thirty-two other rebels have surrendered, while 32 assorted firearms and nine antipersonnel mines were recovered in the same period, according to a statement issued by the AFP Visayas Command.

On September 29, 12 armed remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front under Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR NCBS) surrendered to the 79th Infantry Battalion, a week after six rebels also died in an encounter with 47th Infantry Battalion in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

In a statement, VISCOM chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo disclosed that the losses suffered by the CPP-NPA will add up to the dwindling manpower and degrading their armed capability, which will significantly deter their plans to conduct atrocities and sow fear to people in the upcoming synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Arevalo said the NPA remnants in Visayas are now restless and under so much pressure.

He added that they have no safe place to hide, stressing also that it is only a matter of time before they are pushed to the brink of irreversible collapse.

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division categorized the three remaining guerilla fronts in Negros Island, Central Negros 1, Central Negros 2 and South West Front of KR NCBS as “weakened,” after dismantling the Northern Negros Front and South East Front.

“Our collective efforts with the local government units in clearing the barangays from NPA infestation has gained grounds, as the people are not only aware of the evils brought by the CPP-NPA, but have become more active in supporting our internal security operations resulting in the series of setbacks suffered by the terrorist group throughout the Visayas region,” Arevalo said.*

https://visayandailystar.com/54-npa-rebels-neutralized-38-guns-seized-in-visayas/