FATALITIES. Bodies of New People's Army (NPA) rebels lay outside the municipal hall of Las Navas, Northern Samar in this November 23, 2022 photo. At least 51 combatants of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and captured in Eastern Visayas through focused military operations and whole-of-nation approach, the Philippine Army reported on Thursday (December 21). (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)
TACLOBAN CITY – At least 51 combatants of the New People’s Army (NPA) were either killed or captured in the Eastern Visayas region through intensified operations, the Philippine Army reported on Thursday.
Col. Erwin Rommel Lamzon, assistant commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division said 25 were killed and 26 were captured in different areas of the region, mostly in Samar provinces. The figure is more than the 36 recorded neutralized in 2021.
On top of this, there were 104 rebels who surrendered to government forces this year.
“We have carried out notable achievements against the NPA by clearing influenced and vulnerable villages, prevent their recruitment and recovery efforts, and denial of resource generation,” Lamzon said during a press briefing at the Hotel De Fides here.
Among those killed were Helenita Pardales, secretary of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC); Maria Norie Adelantar, finance officer of NPA sub-regional committee; Amado Adelantar, executive committee member of NPA EVRPC; and Robin Rosco, platoon leader.
Those arrested were Esteban Manuel, a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) central committee; Leonardo Bernardo, EVRPC member; Rosalinda Esponilla, EVRPC secretary; and Leo Bagaris, EVRPC regional staff.
The dwindling number of NPA combatants has raised the confidence of the military to end the armed conflict by next year as more remote communities reject the NPA’s communist ideology, and with the passing of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison recently.
At least 3,505 supporters from communities have withdrawn their support for the CPP and National Democratic Front local chapters.
Tactical victories, according to Lamzon were brought about by the clearing of affected villages.
Civilians’ withdrawal of membership from CPP and NDF reduced their flow of money and material resources.
“Lack of operational expenses and support to families causes demoralization within NPA ranks,” he added.
Lamzon said it’s very challenging to completely end insurgency, especially in Northern Samar since the province is considered the CPP-NDF-NPA’s last bastion.
Despite the deaths and capture of several fighters, there are still an estimated 406 active combatants in Samar provinces belonging to four remaining NPA guerilla fronts, according to Lamzon.
“Our challenges are in clearing all focused areas of the remaining guerilla fronts based on the given timeline and security assessments. Hence, there is a need to expedite the evaluation and validation process to fast-track the weakening of these guerilla fronts,” he added.
Samar Island is considered one of the strongholds of armed rebels due to the densely forested mountainous areas, high poverty incidence, and issue of widespread landlessness, based on a 2013 study of William Norman Holden of the University of Calgary in Canada. (PNA)
