• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following the dismantling of five rebel guerilla fronts and their mass-based organizations, remnants of the New People’s Army in Negros Island is now on the “survival stage”, according to Army Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin.
Within a period of one year and eight months, Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who supervises three Army battalions in northern and central Negros, said that the NPA was not able to conduct tactical offensives against the government.
The Philippine Army estimates that there are still about 30 NPA remnants from its peak of more than 200 combatants several years ago.
“Their morale is low, with few remaining members, and they are now in survival stage considering that they do not have the support of the masses anymore except for their direct relatives and families who are now urging them to surrender,” the army official said.
On Wednesday, July 31, Edralin assisted Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson in the distribution of P228,000 financial aid to former rebels, who are now community development workers, at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.
Asked to the challenges they will be expecting, following the declaration that Negros Island is now in a status of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS), Edralin said the rebel remnants, who are now the focus of their military operations, will do everything to discredit their efforts, including possible staging of assassination activities.
He added that the sustainment of peace efforts of all projects and programs of the government in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and support to former rebels are also among other challenges they are facing.
The Philippine Army earlier assured that they will not leave Negros despite the SIPS declaration.
Meanwhile, Lacson clarified that Negros Occidental is not totally cleared of armed rebels.
He said that the province is “peaceful and sustainable” because mainly of the men-in-uniform, such as the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police.
“These are the people who defended us from the aggressive rebels,” Lacson, who chaired the Provincial Task Force ELCAC (Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict), said.
As to the rebel remnants who will try to recover their lost territories, Lacson said “we have to show to them that we in the civilian government are supporting their former comrades, who decided to join us in the government”.
“Once we have convinced the (NPA) remnants to join us in the mainstream society, it will be the duty of all local government units and the civilian government to support these former rebels, and to show them that they have made the right decision for peace and progress of the province”, Lacson said. | GB
