• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
With the Yuletide season fast approaching, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command (Viscom) has called on the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) remnants to surrender and reunite with the families.
Viscom chief Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo issued the appeal as he reported that the CPP-NPA suffered devastating losses in October after the neutralization of 28 rebels during eight government-initiated encounters.
Among the 28 rebels neutralized were a couple, who died in an encounter with 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Barangay Canlusong, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental on Oct. 17.
The gunbattle also led to the recovery of three M16 assault rifles, one M14 rifle, an AR15 automatic rifle, and one M1 Garand rifle.
A total of 30 assorted firearms and six anti-personnel mines were seized by the government troops during the period, according to a report released by Viscom.
Arevalo urged the remnants of the CPP-NPA to choose the path of peace and return to the fold of the law.
“Our efforts will be sustained and relentless. We will never stop until justice is served, and just and lasting peace is achieved,” he said. | GB
