โข GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Army’s shift of focus from election duties to counter-insurgency operations has resulted to the neutralization of more remnants of the New Peopleโs Army and the recovery of high-powered firearms in two recent encounters in Negros Occidental, a report of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) said.
In a statement on Thursday, Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, public affairs head of 3ID, said the series of encounters took place as Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of 3ID, ordered troops to deny breathing space to the NPA remnants to regroup and recover from their debacles.
Among the eight NPA rebels neutralized, two members of the weakened South West Front were killed in Barangay Yao-Yao, Cauayan on Nov. 7.
Two surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion, following a clash in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City on Nov. 8 while four voluntarily turned themselves in to the 15th Infantry Battalion on Nov. 5.
In Barangay Buenavista, the 94IB recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition, including three M16 assault rifles, two M14 automatic rifles, an M653 assault rifle, an M1 garand rifle, among other war materials.
The encounter in Barangay Yaoyao resulted in the recovery of an M653 assault rifle, an M14 automatic rifle, a caliber .45 pistol and anti-personnel mine with a blasting cap.
The 3ID infantry units in Negros and Panay have been ordered to double their efforts to dismantle the four remaining NPA guerilla fronts for the two islands be declared as insurgency- free. | GB
