Don’t let your comrades die, NPA told

From Panay News (Dec 3, 2021): Don’t let your comrades die, NPA told (By Ruby Silubrico)

ILOILO – Come down now and let the wounded get proper treatment in hospitals.

This was the call of Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, to members of the New People’s Army (NPA) following Wednesday’s military offensive against rebels in Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao town. Sixteen insurgents were killed.

“May information kita nga may mga pilason,” Gorero said. “Magpanaog na para mabulong kag mabuhi.”

The government will help the injured and provide them livelihood, said Gorero.

On the other hand, Major General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, believed that among the fatalities were high-ranking NPA-Panay officials.

“Malaking dagok ito sa kanilang hanay. Sa naiwan pa dyan, you still have enough time to surrender,” said Arevalo.

He expressed optimism that the insurgents in Western Visayas would be neutralized before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration in June 2022.

“With the help of the people, malulutas natin ang ating problema sa insurgency,” said Arevalo.

Troops of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB, under the 301st Infantry Brigade) and 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company led the assault around 6 a.m. on Wednesday bolstered by air support using FA50 fighter jets.

The clash lasted for several hours after which the government troops recovered eight bodies and seized three M16 rifles, an AK47 rifle, four anti-personnel mines, three detonators, a projector, subversive documents with high intelligence value, and assorted personal belongings.

The Army launched the attack after being informed by residents that rebels – believed to be members of the NPA Suyak, Sentro de Grabedad (SDG) Platoon, Southern Front (SF)-Panay – were consolidating in Sitio Burak and planning to attack Army patrol bases in line with the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Dec. 26.

https://www.panaynews.net/dont-let-your-comrades-die-npa-told/