Army vows to eradicate NPA remnants in Negros, Panay

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 13, 2024): Army vows to eradicate NPA remnants in Negros, Panay (By GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

As the Philippine Army shifts its focus to territorial defense from internal security, the 3rd Infantry Division assures Negrenses that it will continue to stay, secure, and protect Negros Island Region, which also includes Siquijor.

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, yesterday recalled that the New People’s Army in Negros was defeated during the stint of then Col. Victor Ibrado as commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, when the island was declared insurgency free.

We thought it was already finished then, Sison said.

With the language of their heart is “patience,” and as they waited for the pull out of Army troops in Negros, they (NPA) were able to recover, the Army general further recalled.

But this time, as we learned our lesson, we will not leave NIR. The Philippine Army will stay, and we will sustain whatever gains we have made, Sison stressed.

The provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Occidental are now in a status of Stable Internal Peace Security, as declared by their respective Provincial Peace and Order Councils, as recommended by the Philippine Army.

But let us not rest on our laurels, Sison told 303IB soldiers during the 38th founding anniversary of 303rd Infantry Brigade on July 12, at Camp Nelson Gerona in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia.

As long as there are remnants of the CPP NPA, let us not relax, and let us sustain our gains, he further told them.

“We will finish them. We will eradicate them, in order for Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, to really have that peace, progress and development,” Sison said.


Placing Negros Island in a SIPS status was done after the Philippine Army declared the dismantling of all the five existing guerilla fronts in Negros, including its Regional Striking Force, mass based organizations, and political structures on influenced barangays.

Sison said there is only one guerilla front in Panay island, up for dismantling by the 301st Infantry Brigade under the command of Brig. Gen. Michael Samson.

The 303IB under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin was also described as among the Philippine Army “fightingest” units in the country, since last year.

“We will not be able to accomplish that achievements, without the support of various stakeholders and the Task Force ELCAC (Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict), which is the most potent solution, or tool being used, in order for us to end the menace of the local communist armed conflict”, Sison also stressed.

The military is just part of the solution, and not the solution, he pointed out as he also thanked the Negros local chief executives, especially Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for his all-out support to the peace and development endeavors of the 303rd Infantry Brigade.

In the same activity, Sison also led the pinning of ranks to new members of the Army Reserve Command, including Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Central Philippine State University Dr. Aladino Moraca and Fernando Abello, CPSU Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Plaques of recognition were also conferred to representatives of various organizations, for their support extended to 303IB infantry units, which was witnessed by former AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, among others.*

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