The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has been tasked to dismantle the four remaining New People’s Army guerrilla fronts in Negros Island before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends in 2022.
And the 3rd Infantry Division may not expect additional troops to help dismantle the remaining guerrilla fronts, after it successfully pulled apart the South East Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor recently.
Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said yesterday that while there was no timetable given by Army chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, to dismantle the four NPA guerrilla fronts in Negros, the 3ID will do it as soon as possible, or before the term of Duterte ends two years from now.
At present, there are five Army battalions stationed in Negros Island, being supervised by the 302nd and 303rd Infantry Brigades of the 3rd Infantry Division.
In his visit to the 302nd IB headquarters on Nov. 28 in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, Sobejana said he will maintain a reasonable amount of force in Negros, as he wants to avoid what he calls “overkill”, apparently referring to the deployment of more troops to the island.
But Sobejana said they will not stop their military operations until all the NPA guerrilla fronts in Negros island are dismantled.
“Our mission is to get rid of all of them so that Negrenses will be able to live peacefully,” Sobejana stressed during a press conference Saturday at the 302nd Infantry Brigade headquarters.- GB
