• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Island is on the process of declaring a stable internal peace and security status, said Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
“In spite of the gains that we have, we should not be complacent. If Negros Island is declared an area with stable internal peace and security, we should expect that the remnants of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will attempt to sabotage and create noise and propaganda,” Sison said.
“We should not lower our guard as these remnants still have the capability to stage atrocities against us,” he said during the Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center-Western Visayas meeting held at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz on April 17.
Sison also emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination in the success of peace and security efforts.
“We are winning not only because of the Army, but also due to the cooperation, coordination and collaboration with our counterparts. The assistance you have provided us has been immense and has made our job easy,” he added.
From January 1 to date, the 3ID has initiated 22 encounters in Western and Visayas that led to the neutralization of 27 rebels as well as the recovery of 57 firearms.
The 3ID further reported that eight of nine active guerrilla fronts of the CPP-NPA since 2019 have been successfully dismantled, leaving only one weakened.
Six of the nine dismantled NPA guerrilla fronts are in Negros Island. | GB
