• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The New People’s Army (NPA) Apolinario Gatmaitan Command has belittled the Philippine Army’s target to recommend the declaration of Negros Island as insurgency-free by the first quarter of next year.
In a statement, the rebel group’s spokesman Ka Maoce Legislador claimed that the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) is only capable of “warmongering and crimes,” adding that its target is “another failed deadline” and a “prolonged militarization outbreak”.
Legislador added that 3ID commander Maj. Gen. Marion Sison is “just sugarcoating their inability to accomplish” the defeat of the NPA in Negros.
The 3ID, which operates in Western and Central Visayas, earlier reported the dismantling of four of the five NPA guerilla fronts in Negros Island.
Military records indicated that almost all the top leaders of Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor have already been neutralized, among them its secretary Rogelio Posadas and Negros regional commander Romeo Nanta as well as seven others who were killed in gunbattles since January this year.
Records of the 3ID further showed that a total of 102 NPA members have been either killed in encounters, captured or surrendered, with 142 firearms recovered in Western and Central Visayas during the same period.
However, Legislador said that “neutralizing leaders” is just the 3ID’s “version of cold-blooded murders” of their peace consultants and spokesperson. | GB
