NPA now ‘leaderless’ in Western, Central Visayas – military

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 23, 2023): NPA now ‘leaderless’ in Western, Central Visayas – military (By MARTIN SADONGDONG)

AT A GLANCE

• The New People’s Army (NPA) units in Western and Central Visayas are now “leaderless” with the death of an alleged high-ranking communist rebel in Negros Occidental recently, the military said Sunday, April 23.
• The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Visayas Command (AFP VisCom) said that the death of Rogelio Posadas alias “Putin” further contributed to the leadership vacuum suffered by the NPA.
• Posadas was identified by the military as the alleged secretary of the NPA Regional Committee Negros – Cebu – Bohol – Siquijor.

The New People’s Army (NPA) units in Western and Central Visayas are now “leaderless” following the death of an alleged high-ranking communist rebel in an armed encounter in Negros Occidental recently, the military said Sunday, April 23.

(Rogelio Posadas / Courtesy of Philippine Army 94th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Visayas Command (AFP VisCom) said that the death of Rogelio Posadas alias “Putin” further contributed to the leadership vacuum suffered by the NPA.

Posadas was identified by the military as the alleged secretary of the NPA Regional Committee Negros – Cebu – Bohol – Siquijor.

“With the death of Rogelio Posadas, the CPP – NPA [New People’s Army] – NDF [National Democratic Front] in Western and Central Visayas are now leaderless with no clear operational direction on the ground,” said Lt. Col. Israel Galorio, chief of VisCom public information office.

The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade reported that [Posadas died in an armed encounter]between suspected communist rebels and joint units from the 62nd Infantry Battalion (62nd IB) and 94th Infantry Battalion (94th IB) in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental last April 20.

According to the military, the troops clashed with the armed individuals for 10 minutes.

The skirmish resulted in the death of Posadas who, according to the VisCom, was a “notorious” NPA leader that orchestrated “numerous terroristic activities” in Western and Central Visayas.

Posadas was tagged by the military in the killing of three civilians and wounding of three others during an ambush of a cargo truck in Toboso, Negros Occidental in 2009; bombing and attack to two construction firms that built the Bacolod-Silay International Airport in Silay City in 2006; and burning of facilities of the Central Lopez and Victorias Milling Company in Toboso in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

“His death is a crushing defeat to the CPP-NPA-NDF as this will clearly manifest the decimation of the terrorist group in the Visayas region and will send a strong message to their already demoralized ranks that they have no safe haven to hide,” Galorio said.

Posadas’ death came several days after the arrest of Eric Casilao in Malaysia on April 1 and his deportation to the Philippines on April 17.

Casilao was identified as the alleged secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – NPA, and an “active member” of the Central Committee of CPP.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/23/npa-now-leaderless-in-western-central-visayas-military