Col. Romeo Basco, 61 st Infantry Battalion commander, said yesterday that the communist insurgency in Negros is dying a natural death and has just become a livelihood for its members.

He made the claim after the clash between government forces and rebels Monday, that resulted in the death of a New People's Army squad leader.

Basco said that so long as the rebel movement is pestering the population in the hinterlands, asking for revolutionary taxes, and supporting an armed struggle, the military will always conduct offensives.

He claimed that the cause the rebels were fighting for at the height of the insurgency in 1985 to 1987 is not felt anymore and is already gone.

These included the Marcos dictatorship, presence of the US bases, among others, he said. He also said the problems of farm-to-market roads and land reform are continuously being addressed by government.

Basco said the dying strength of the CPP-NPA in Negros was tested last year, when no single offensive was conducted by the group in order to preserve their forces.

He said he considers the death of alias “Daks” in the encounter in Bantolinao, Talalak, Sta. Catalina Monday a big blow to the rebels' cause since the victim was a squad leader who had to be deployed from Bohol.

Unlike before, local government units and barangay officials are now requesting for army presence in their area, and are giving them vital information to combat the insurgency, Basco also said.*JG

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