(Photo courtesy of 3ID Public Affairs Office)
ILOILO CITY – The successful combat operation of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) over the weekend was hailed by the 3rd Infantry Division’s (3ID) commander on Tuesday.
The government troops encountered around 10 rebels while conducting a combat operation in Corocuan village, Igbaras town, on Saturday afternoon.
Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, 3ID’s commander, said the efforts of the Army against peace spoilers will always be recognized.
“We cannot allow peace spoilers to sow fear and terror, thus, I am directing all Army units in the area to synchronize their efforts to finally end all the atrocities and oppression perpetrated by the NPAs,” he said in a statement.
“We have all the might in store — guns, ammunition, mortars, tanks, artillery, helicopters, and the like. We will never have a second thought of using them until they are crushed or until they are rendered irrelevant in the society,” Vinoya added.
Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara, commanding officer of the 61IB, meanwhile, said the rebels they encountered were believed to be members of the Southern Front-Komite Rehiyon (KR) Panay led by Melgar Besmanos.
In recent interviews, Batara said the group is known for its notoriety in extortion activities.
The combat operation was prompted by reports from concerned civilians of the presence of rebels who have plans to conduct sabotage operations targeting the equipment and facilities of Century Peak Energy Corporation (CPEC) based in Igbaras, Iloilo.
The Army was able to recover from them one M16 rifle, various ammunition and magazines, one bandolier, NPA Flag, medical supplies, food pack, assorted propaganda materials, and other personal items.
The CPP-NPA was already declared by Igbaras town persona non grata last Jan. 30.
"These NPA terrorists were already declared persona non grata by the people of Igbaras because of their atrocities which hamper peace and development. They can freely roam around this area and its neighboring towns only if they surrender and go back to the folds of the law," Batara said.
The CPP-NPA, which has has been waging a five-decade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
