ENDING INSURGENCY. Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said on Monday (Aug. 3, 2020) the communist-terrorists suffered consecutive setbacks as a result of the relentless efforts of the Philippine Amy troops to end the decades-long insurgency in Negros Island. Several Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army leaders were arrested in joint military and police operations in Negros Occidental in the past weeks. (Photo courtesy of 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army)
BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Army remained optimistic on the impending fall of the rebel fronts in Negros Island after the series of arrests of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) leaders in recent weeks.
Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said on Monday the communist-terrorists suffered consecutive setbacks as a result of the relentless efforts of the troops to end the decades-long insurgency in the island.
“I thank every personnel under my command for the job well done. Every successful mission equates to hearing the clamor of the Negrenses for a genuine and lasting peace,” he said.
On July 30, three suspected rebel leaders of the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR-NCBS) were arrested by military and police troops in Sitio Victory, Barangay Minapasuk in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Now under the police custody are Cristell Abordo alias Dulay/Matt, staff of Regional Communication/Intelligence and former medical staff of Regional Strike Force; Mary Dem Forones alias Nancy/Mia/Ayon, secretary of Regional Intelligence Secretary and member of KR-NCBS Executive Committee; and Rossine Enyong alias Lemay/Digna/Angel/Mary Joy of CN1’s SYP Platoon.
Three weeks earlier, their four comrades from the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros (KR-N) were arrested in Sitio Mamposo, Barangay Magballo in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental also in a joint military and police operation.
These included Emmylo Cañares, a former finance officer of Bohol Party Committee and the current secretary of the Second National Urban Center Party Committee; George Buga-ay, a former squad leader and finance logistics officer of the Regional Strike Forces of the KR-N, now assigned at the KR-N Regional Communication (RCOM); Relyn Morino, a staff of KR-N RCOM; and Raffy Patajo, a former squad finance logistic officer of Platoon 3, squad leader of Platoon 2, South West Front, KR-N, and staff of RCOM.
On June 18, five communist rebels died in a clash with joint army and police forces in Sitio Talingting, Barangay Luyang in Mabinay, Negros Oriental.
In central Negros, combined army and police troops arrested three Yunit Militia members of the NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command in Barangay San Agustin, Isabela on Sunday, a report of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) said.
Apprehended during a search warrant operation were Weniefredo Carillo Sr., 51; Martillano Lindayao, 46; and Dimas Lindayao, 40.
They yielded a .45-caliber pistol with a magazine loaded with six rounds of ammunition and two .38-caliber revolvers with nine rounds of ammunition.
Vinoya lauded the efforts of the 3ID’s Negros-based units for the synchronized efforts towards ending the local communist armed conflict on the island.
“Let us continue to carry out our task until the last enemy unit is dissolved and its members neutralized by either surrender, apprehension or, in worst case, dead,” he said.
The Army maintains two brigades in Negros Island. The 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) based in Murcia, Negros Occidental supervises the 94th, 79th, and 62nd IBs. Under the jurisdiction of 302 IBde stationed in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental are the 15th, 11th, and 47th IBs. (PNA)
