• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Despite the yuletide season celebrations, there will be no ceasefire against the remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island, an official of the Philippine Army said.
Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade, said that in the absence of a ceasefire declaration from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, they will continue their operations against the NPA.
“This is to assure everybody that the upcoming Christmas celebration will be peaceful,” Edralin said. “They can run, but they cannot hide.”
He noted that the recent encounters in the hinterlands of Binalbagan town and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental were the results of real-time information relayed to them by community.
Edralin, however, said that their door remains open for the NPA rebels willing to return to the fold of the law, just like the 42 former rebels who availed of early Christmas gifts of P30,000 each from the provincial government Monday, Dec. 18.
The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command in northern Negros have issued a statement claiming responsibility for the recent killing of three civilians in the hinterlands of Calatrava, whom they accused either as committing grave offenses against the people, or serving as military informants.
Edralin said the killing of innocent civilians is a manifestation of how barbaric the communist-terrorists are.
He added that the NPA remnants want to project that they are still a force to reckon with despite their dwindling numbers.
The 3rd Infantry Brigade has reported that focused military operations in Negros, Panay and Bohol since January this year resulted to 90 armed engagements that led to the neutralization of 236 leaders and members of the NPA in two Visayas regions.
These included 57 killed in gunbattles, 164 who surrendered and 15 others apprehended, while 192 assorted guns were recovered. | GB
