The military reported yesterday that the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines has ordered the mobilization of their "reserve force," who are members of their front organizations, to join the New People's Army in the conduct of tactical offensives against the government, following the arrest of CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison in Netherlands.

Brig. Gen. Gregorio Fajardo, assistant commanding general of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said members of the CPP front organizations are the "life blood" of the insurgency movement in urban areas, especially on party cadres and red fighters.

"They are ready to shed blood and even to lose their own lives just to pursue the dreams and aspirations of the party," Fajardo said, referring to those recruits from schools and the youth sector. He maintained that the arrest of Sison is very damaging to the party because he is the center of gravity of the CPP, being the chairman. "They are now in a quandary on how to immediately save Mr. Sison from the Hague," he added.

Fajardo also said they are expecting an increase in armed engagements between government forces and insurgents in Negros, whom he expects to comply with the directives of CPP central committee within the remaining quarter of the year.

The military in Negros noted an increase in liquidation activities of the New People's Army, especially in the areas of central Negros, which they claimed to have victimized 82 civilians, including barangay officials, military and police personnel since 2006.

"They (rebels) are killing people who are supporting the government's anti-insurgency program," Fajardo said.

CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal, in a statement issued, however, said "The AFP is desperately concocting new psywar gimmicks and medi spins to make it appear that the revolutionary movement has been demoralized because of Ka Joema's arrest."

On the contrary, Rosal claimed NPA red fighters enjoy high morale and are ever determined to carry the forward the revolutionary armed struggle against US-Arroyo regime.

Fajardo said a guerilla front of the Komiteng Rehiyon Sentral Bisayas, which used to be operating in Cebu, transferred its base of operations in southwestern portion of Negros, because of the sustained military operations in Central Visayas.

Military records show the a front guerilla unit of KR-Sentral Bisayas operating in southwestern area of Negros, has 39 party cadres and red fighters.

The transfer of Cebu and Bohol-based guerillas may also be aimed at beefing up the forces of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros, whose armed strength and number of party members, significantly dropped from 514 in 2006 to 186 up this time, Fajardo said, during a security briefing with members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council at the Capitol.

At the same time, he also reported the reduction of five Negros-based NPA guerilla fronts to three fronts.

Fajardo attributed the 55 percent reduction of the CPP-NPA forces in Negros to the neutralization of their members who were either killed or captured in encounters, while others surrendered with firearms and went on AWOL (absent-without-leave).

He also credited the accomplishment of his mission to the support of the local government officials and the community as well. " My assignment in Negros is very challenging because we are not only engaged in fighting with the armed group, but also actively involved in the development efforts of the local government units," he said.

Col. Honorato de los Reyes, former chief of the Management Fiscal's Office of the Philippines, will assume command of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, was commanded by Fajardo for one year and two months.*GPB

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