• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Visayas Command (Viscom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reiterated its call for the remnants of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Negros Island to surrender while they still can.
“Remnants of the NPA only have two options, either return to the fold of the law and live, or continue wasting their lives and die for nothing,” Viscom chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo said in a statement on Tuesday.
He said that the NPA will just continue its losing streak, following two government-initiated encounters in Himamaylan City and Cauayan town in Negros Occidental that resulted in the death of two rebels, and recovery of 10 high-powered guns and explosives.
Arevalo said that they are determined to end the local armed conflict in the region the soonest possible time.
“Our efforts will continue to be relentless and we will sustain the momentum,” he added.
Seven of the 10 high-powered guns were recovered by the 94th Infantry Battalion after an encounter with remnants of the Central Negros 2 in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City that resulted in the surrender of two NPA members.
Two other rebels linked to the ambush- slay of two members of the 15th Infantry Battalion died in an encounter with soldiers in Barangay Yao-Yao, Cauayan that also led to the recovery of three more high-powered guns and an anti- personnel mine, according to the 302nd Infantry Brigade.
“With these series of setbacks, the CPP-NPA in the region is now hard pressed against the wall and we intend to keep it that way,” Arevalo said. | GB
