ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) yesterday announced that there are no more active guerilla fronts in Western Visayas.
Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, spokesperson of the 3ID, said continued focused military operations was a big factor.
As of December 2023, Javines said the Central and Southern front committees of the New People’s Army (NPA) had weakened and were not already active while the Southwest front in Negros Island is set to be declared as dismantled.
“When we say na weakened, ara pa sila sa area pero mahina na kag indi full-blown ang ila existence,” Javines said.
Central front covers towns in central Iloilo while Southern front covers all 1st District towns.
Also in December last year, the 3ID said it has neutralized 236 members and leaders of the NPA in Western and Central Visayas.
In 92 encounters, 57 rebels died, 164 surrendered and 15 arrested.
The 3ID also seized 192 firearms – 76 high-powered and 116 low-powered.
Under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), 3ID said 341 former rebels received various benefits, including immediate livelihood and reintegration assistance.
Of the E-CLIP beneficiaries, 285 were from Western Visayas, and 56 from Central Visayas.
Javines also noted a decrease in rebel manpower from 214 active members in 2022 to 146 last year.
Major General Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said that these accomplishments have significantly reduced the capability of the rebels to carry out violent attacks against the security forces and local communities.
Sison said that they will continue to intensify their military operations and increase the deployment of soldiers in order to fully monitor the movements of the rebels who still refuse to surrender.
“This year, we have to strengthen our monitoring and operations against these terrorist groups. We have to use our manpower to neutralize them and prevent them in doing atrocities,” Sison said./PN
