DISMANTLED UNITS. Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2022) six more communist New People's Army (NPA) units have been dismantled by government troops in December this year alone. Almerol called on NPA fighters to surrender and reunited with their families during holiday season. (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY - The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) reported Tuesday that another six Communist New People's Army (NPA) units were dismantled this month.
In a statement, Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said the dismantled units were the NPA's Regional Sentro de Grabidad, Regional Operational Command, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (RSDG, ROC, SMRC), Sub-Regional Committees (SRC) 1, 2, 4, and 5, under SMRC and SRC 4 of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.
"Most of them formerly operate in Davao Region and Bukidnon," Almerol said.
As a result of the "neutralization of the NPA leadership," Almerol said the Eastern Mindanao Area-Clearing and Validation Committee composed of the Eastmincom and Area Police Command - Eastern Mindanao recommended the NPA units' dissolution to the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council.
In addition to the capture and deaths of top NPA leaders, Almerol noted that no reports have been received of the NPA's activities or presence in their former mass bases in Eastern Mindanao.
He said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. signed the dissolution status for the dismantled NPA units in a joint resolution on Dec. 6.
"Since the declaration of the Davao Region as 'insurgency-free,' Eastmincom has not monitored any extortion activities, harassment, and other atrocities by the NPA, including their presence in the said area," he said.
On Oct. 12, Davao Region was declared insurgency-free following the defeat of the NPA in the area through the convergence of the civilian government and the military under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Meanwhile, Almerol encouraged the remaining members and leaders of the NPA to "yield peacefully, so they can be reunited with their loved ones, especially during the Yuletide season."
"Christmas Season symbolizes freedom, and you cannot experience that if you are away from your families who are already missing you. It is time for you to embrace the government’s offer to help you start a new life," he said. (PNA)
