We're Winning vs Reds--Army

From Panay News (Dec 18, 2019): We're Winning vs Reds--Army (By Ruby Silubrico)

ILOILO City – “We are gaining against the New People’s Army (NPA). We are on track to winning and ending the local communist armed conflict in Western Visayas,” declared Brigadier General Eric Vinoya, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), roughly a week before the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) marks its 51st founding anniversary.

Executive Order (EO) 70 has dealt a big blow to the CPP and its armed wing, the NPA, said Vinoya.

EO 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte institutionalized the “whole-of-nation approach” in addressing the insurgency problem. It is the synchronization of various government agencies’ plans and programs to combat insurgency because guns and cannons alone could not do the job.

“EO 70 aims to achieve genuine peace. Discrediting EO 70 is like rejecting peace,” said Vinoya.

He welcomed the surrender of many rebels this year, most of whom were NPA commanders.

Vinoya expressed confidence of ending the insurgency in Western Visayas by next year.

“Government forces are serious in fulfilling the people’s will to end the insurgency. We are trained to be always ready,” he stressed.

Vinoya warned the CPP-NPA, “Expect more intensified combat operations. You only have two options, surrender or die.”

He lauded local government units for establishing TF-ELCACs or task forces to end local communist armed conflict.

“Nasasaktan at natatalo na ang mga teroristang CPP-NPA dahil ang taongbayan na mismo ang umaayaw sa kanila. Sila ang bumabagsak ngayon at humihina ang lakas,” said Vinoya.

Various local government units have declared the CPP-NPA persona non grata.

“Hindi nila kayang banggain ang pinagsanib na pwersa ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno at ng taongbayan para sa isang layunin na mapuksa ang deka-dekadang pagmamalupit at pagpapahirap sa sambayanang Filipino,” said Vinoya.

By 3ID’s estimate, seven rebel fronts are operating in 87 barangays cross Western Visayas. Vinoya thus appealed for support from local chief executives and the public in general.

“We must be more aggressive, proactive and purposive in our efforts,” said Vinoya.

Good governance is key to ending the rebellion, he stressed, thus mayors and governors must “do their part…by ensuring that their mandate is carried out as expected.”

To the rebels, he further said, “You still have a chance to leave the armed movement and go back to the fold of law enjoying true freedom and various government basic services together with your loved ones.”

“I am determined to accomplish the mission given me using the full force of the Philippine Army. We are really serious in ending the insurgency. It is a menace to society,” he said.

On Dec. 26, the 51st founding anniversary of the CPP, there could be rebel offensives against government security forces and vital installations in Western Visayas, according to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).

The CPP usually marks its anniversary with attacks against the police and military carried out by the NPA.

Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, regional police director, ordered police units across Western Visayas to step up anti-insurgency operations in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Intensify intelligence monitoring, maximize defense posture, he told them.

PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong said, “Our regional director also directed our policemen to carry both short and long firearms.”

In Iloilo province, towns with insurgency problems were told to be wary of strangers as these could be rebels.

These were San Joaquin, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Igbaras, Alimodian, Leon, Calinog, Maasin, Bingawan, Badiangan, San Enrique, San Rafael and Lemery, and the component city of Passi.

On the other hand, the Philippine Army already started troop deployment in the towns.

“We are ready. But we are asking the help of the community,” said Army Captain Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the 3ID.

The CPP was formed by Prof. Jose Maria Sison on Dec. 26, 1968. It was designated as a terrorist group by current Philippine president and Sison’s former student, Rodrigo Duterte in December 2017.

https://www.panaynews.net/were-winning-vs-reds-army/