ILOILO City – In one of the biggest setbacks for communist rebels in Western Visayas in recent years, the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion (12IB) neutralized nine New People’s Army (NPA) members and seized 28 firearms in 20 armed encounters from 2024 to 2025.
The majority of clashes took place in Calinog, Iloilo, and Tapaz, Capiz — areas long considered rebel strongholds.
Military records show that of the 34 firearms accounted for, 24 were high-powered rifles and four were low-powered guns, mostly recovered during combat operations, from arms caches, and through surrenders.
Two of the encounters were major engagements that resulted in nine rebel fatalities.
“We will continue to hunt them, but it’s better for them to surrender. Our government is ready to help them. Ilan nalang sila na nasa area natin,” said 12IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Vicel Jan Garsuta.
The latest recovery took place on July 15, 2025, in Barangay Tacayan, Tapaz, Capiz, where a tip from a former rebel led soldiers to an arms cache containing an M16 rifle, three short steel magazines, several rounds of ammunition, two rifle grenades, an anti-personnel mine detonator, blasting caps, a holster, 50 meters of wire, and a defective caliber .38 pistol.
Officials credited the cooperation of former insurgents as instrumental in these recent successes, underscoring stronger community support for government efforts to dismantle the insurgency.
With fewer active fighters and shrinking firepower, the Army said the NPA’s presence in Western Visayas is now at its weakest point in decades./PN