The 3 rd Infantry Division of the Army claimed to have dissolved or downgraded two New People's Army guerilla fronts in Panay and Cebu in 2007, which some of their key cadres say have sought refuge and re-organized the Central Visayas Regional Party Committee in southern Negros .

Lt. Col. Erwin de Asis, 3 rd ID spokesman, yesterday said Negros is the priority area for dismantling of guerilla fronts in Central and Western Visayas for year 2008

Military records show that there are six NPA guerilla fronts in Negros island, including the newly re-organized Central Visayas Regional Party Committee, whose cadres used to operate in Cebu .

De Asis said the shifting of focus in anti-insurgency campaign to Negros does not mean an all-out war against armed insurgents, but also giving emphasis to peace and development efforts in the countrysides.

The military announced earlier plans to deploy the 15 th Infantry Battalion and a battalion-sized group of militiamen in Negros the first quarter of 2008.

Despite the reactivation of CVRPC in southern Negros , the military said it has noted an influx of rebel returnees who also surrendered nine high-powered firearms, to avail of government's Balik-Baril program.

The military is paying P35,000 for every M-16 or M-14 assault rifle surrendered to the government.

De Asis said their campaigns in Negros, Panay, Cebu and Bohol in 2007 led to the capture of 18 rebels and surrender of 29 others.

He also said that the 3ID troopers also recovered 51 high and low-powered firearms from the CPP-NPA.

Military records claim that 35 insurgency -affected barangays were cleared from rebel influence, and that the CPP-NPA failed in their tactical operations against Army units in two regions of the Visayas.

Militant groups have denounced plans to deploy two battalions of soldiers and militiamen in Negros , saying they are expecting a “Thunderbolt-like situation” and rising of human rights cases this year.

Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, 3 rd ID commander, meanwhile, has renewed his call for rebels to return to the folds of the law.*GPB

back to top