Negros island is once again the priority area for clearing of insurgents in the Visayas, Armed Forces Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado said yesterday and added that they are targeting several New People's Army guerilla fronts in Visayas, to be dismantled within this year.

Military records show that there are four NPA guerilla fronts in Negros , with an estimated 500 members, including about 170 armed red fighters.

Ibrado, however, said Negros is not a problematic area, compared to other places in the country.

The Army's 3 rd Infantry Division, which supervises the anti-insurgency campaign in Western and Central Visayas, is deploying the 15 th Infantry Battalion to Negros next month.

Negros accounts for more than half of the guerilla fronts to be dismantled by the 3 rd ID in the two Visayas regions until 2010.

Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, 3 rd ID commanding general, earlier said he will also activate a battalion-sized unit of CAFGU, which is composed of about 400 men, in Negros , to compliment the 303 rd Infantry Brigade forces in the filling up of security vacuum areas.

Aside from Negros, Ibrado said Samar is also a priority area for clearing of rebels in the Visayas.

The 15 th IB headed by Lt. Col. Henry Dar which is due for deployment in Negros next month, is now undergoing re-training at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.

Military records also showed that that there are guerilla fronts to be dismantled by 3ID in Panay and one in Bohol .

Gen. Hermogenes Esperon whose stint as AFP chief was extended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo until May 9, had earlier ordered Ibrado to increase the operational tempo in the campaign against the New People's Army in the Visayas.

Esperon is supposed to retire Feb. 9 as he reaches the retirement age of 56.

Col. Honorato de los Reyes, 303 rd IB commanding officer, said they want to accomplish their mission in Negros without a bloodshed, but through reconciliation and winning the hearts and minds of the people as much as possible.

De los Reyes cited their initial success in the implementation of government's Balik-Baril program, which led to the surrender of eight former and active rebels who also turned over 16 high-powered firearms.*GPB

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