Clashes with NPA not poll security threat

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 26, 2019): Clashes with NPA not poll security threat



Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), on Monday (March 25, 2019) says the series of armed encounters between government troops and the New People’s Army rebels will not be an election security threat. (Photo by Gail Momblan)

Government security forces said the series of armed encounters with the New People’s Army (NPA) in Western Visayas will not pose a security challenge for the upcoming May 2019 elections.

On the contrary, the clashes with the rebels show that the government troops are conducting continuous operations to secure the upcoming polls, said Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).

“These (encounters) will serve as deterrent to them (rebels),” he said in an interview on Monday.

He said the series of encounters does not mean the rise in number of NPA members but rather indicates that the Armed Forces do not allow the free movement of the rebels around communities.

Dolina emphasized that the recent encounters with rebels came after the information coming from the local populace. “We gain the trust and confidence of people who volunteer to give us information,” he said.

Brig. Gene. John Bulalacao, Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) chief, in a separate interview, said the recent encounters help the security forces to identify personalities that might inflict security threat in the mid-term polls.

“These series of encounters are part of our preparation to ensure that the forthcoming election is secured,” he said.

Bulalacao noted that the rebels are taking advantage of the elections to generate funds through campaign fee, collection of permits to win, and other means of extortion from politicians.

The series of clashes occurred in Barangay Mulangan, Igbaras, Iloilo on March 17; Barangay Osorio-2 in San Remegio, Antique on March 19; Sitio Igburay, Barangay Lacay Doldol, Igbaras, Iloilo on March 20; and the latest encounter on Sitio Burak, Barangay Alimodias, Miagao, Iloilo on Sunday.

The latest encounter killed one suspected leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) as government troops overran an NPA hideout following an encounter.

With this, the government troops expect the rebels to retaliate.

“They (rebels) want to get even and we are prepared. We are ready to meet them everywhere,” Bulalacao said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Sisenado Magbalot Jr., commanding officer of the 61st Infantry Battalion, said the army also expects the rebels to retaliate.

“It would be advantageous if they have plans (to retaliate) because they will move, and it will be reported to us,” Magbalot said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1065627