Army dismantles 2 NPA platoons in Samar Island

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 7, 2025): Army dismantles 2 NPA platoons in Samar Island (By Sarwell Meniano)

FIGHTING INSURGENCY. Soldiers patrolling a remote area in Eastern Samar in this undated photo. The Philippine Army has dismantled two platoons of the New People’s Army that operated in some parts of Samar and Eastern Samar provinces. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Army has dismantled two platoons of the New People’s Army (NPA) that operated in some parts of Samar and Eastern Samar provinces.

After decades of fighting government forces in the southern part of Samar Island, the "Bugsok" and "Apoy" platoons are now considered officially dismantled, Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said.

The two platoons are the remaining rebel formations under the sub-regional committee (SRC) Sesame of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

The National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (NJPSCC) approved the declaration through the signing of resolution No. 13 on Dec. 11, 2024, according to Vestuir.

He recalled that in middle of 2023 during the relocation of the Army's 802nd Brigade headquarters to Borongan City, Eastern Samar, the Apoy platoon had 44 fighters while the Bugsok platoon had 23 combatants.

“Through synchronized efforts and the right force mix utilizing combat, intelligence, and civil-military operations, 47 active NPA fighters were neutralized, and 87 assorted firearms and 54 banned anti-personnel mines were seized until year-end 2024,” Vestuir told the Philippine News Agency.

Currently, there are only 16 members left, five of whom are more than 60 years old, and they have no direction from the Communist Party of the Philippines, as their secretary already surrendered because of hardships, hunger, and inhospitality of the communities towards the NPA, he said.

In an earlier interview, Realyn Basada, 38, a former secretary of the sub-regional committee Sesame under the NPA’s EVRPC, said the absence of provision from previously supportive upland farmers influenced her decision to escape from their lair at about midnight on the third week of November 2024.

“We starved for many days because we did not get any donations from farmers after the military conducted the RCSP (retooled community support program) in previously NPA-influenced areas. We’re not getting any support, unlike in the past,” Basada said.

This development prompted the joint evaluation board from the military and police to recommend the SRC Sesame as dismantled during its meeting on Dec. 23, 2024. The board is just waiting for the resolution from the NJPSCC.

“The troops and stakeholders in the communities are optimistic in pursuing these 16 remnants for this year's campaign to once and for all achieve the total victory of winning the peace in the southern half of Samar Island against the NPA, who waged anti-community development actions since the 1970s,” Vestuir added.

He commended all troops for their bravery, discipline, and sacrifice for the successful dismantling of the two remaining platoon formations.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1241176