The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army has reinforced its forces in Negros with cadres from Bohol and Cebu, Col. Gregorio Fajardo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said yesterday.

Fajardo added that this is in compliance with the order of CPP chairman Jose Maria Sison to increase the guerilla fronts in Negros from six to 12.

Citing documents recovered from rebels in encounters with government forces, Fajardo said the Central Visayas Regional Party Committee, which had already been dismantled in Cebu, dispatched some of its forces to Negros, Panay and Leyte for the creation of more guerilla fronts.

Fajardo, however, said the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros chaired by priest-turned-rebel Frank Fernandez continues to lose grounds in many areas of Negros as it is facing hard times in recruiting members, despite the reinforcement from Cebu and Bohol. To comply with the order of Sison, they even have to recruit minors, he added.

The military estimates that there are 196 NPA red fighters operating under six guerilla fronts in Negros island

Fajardo claimed that the series of military operations in northern Negros have claimed the lives of numerous rebels, including those killed in San Carlos City.

The military also foiled rebel attacks in several police and military and police detachments in southern Negros, although they were successful in raids against Bantay Dagat and police outposts in Escalante and Toboso areas last year, he said. The National Democratic Front Negros have repeatedly debunked military claims that the NPA is recruiting minors.

NDF-Negros further claimed that KR-Negros is getting stronger with the support of the masses.

Fajardo also claimed that the top leadership of KR-Negros is now in a quandary as to why they are losing on all fronts, so the best excuse of the CPP-NPA-NDF is to cite the increasing government forces, active participation of local government units in solving propaganda issues, such as non-delivery of basic services in the countrysides, he added.

As to the proposed peace dialog between top leaders of the CPP-NPA in Negros and Maranon, Fajardo said he welcomed it but added that the Negrenses are fully aware of the real intention of communist rebels.

The communist rebels can no longer sway Negrenses to support their revolutionary armed struggle, he added.*GPB

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