ILOILO City – Is the New People’s Army (NPA) in Panay Island on its death throes?
The rebel group is reeling from a series of heavy losses. Several of its top leaders have either been killed or captured in recent military operations.
By the end of next month, September, the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philippine Army aims to declare the entire Panay Island as being in a Stable Internal Peace and Security Stage (SIPSS).
In alignment with the campaign to achieve an insurgency-free status for Panay, Army soldiers last week killed three top rebel leaders in the island.
Maria Concepcion Araneta Bocala and Vivian Torato Teodosio died during a government operation on August 15 in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao, Iloilo.
Bocala, also known as Concha, served as the NPA’s 1st Deputy Secretary, Komiteng Rehiyon (KR) – Panay, and a National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant from Manduriao, Iloilo City. Teodosio, known by her aliases Minerva, Mara, and Moray, was the Secretary of the Central Front, KR-Panay, and hailed from Santa Barbara, Iloilo, according to the military.
The encounter occurred at 4:45 p.m., shortly after the 82nd Infantry Battalion retrieved the body of another rebel leader, Vicente Hinojales, which was in a state of decomposition after being killed in an earlier encounter in Lambunao, according to Brigadier General Michael Samson, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade.
Hinojales, originally from Barangay Linao, Matalam, North Cotabato, was noted for his previous role as secretary of the Guerilla Front 14 in Mindanao before relocating to Panay Island in 2017.
With several arrest warrants in Agusan del Sur for charges including destructive arson and kidnapping, Hinojales had been implicated in numerous attacks. These include raids and ambushes in various provinces, marking him as a significant figure in terrorist activities across the region.
The operation against Bocala and Teodosio and also resulted in the recovery of an arsenal including three M16 rifles, an M79 grenade launcher, a shotgun, and various subversive materials. No government casualties were reported, said Samson.
Bocala, who had an outstanding bounty of P8 million due to various criminal charges, was the widow of Reynaldo Bocala, also an NPA rebel and NDF peace consultant killed in 2021 by operatives of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Pavia, Iloilo.
General Samson urged the remaining insurgents in Panay Island to cease hostilities and engage with government reintegration programs, citing the opportunity to reintegrate into society and lead peaceful lives with their families.
SERIES OF NPA LOSSES
Two months ago the Army made a breakthrough in its counterinsurgency campaign. On June 24, it captured alive ranking NPA-Panay leader in Barangay Tapulang, Maayon, Capiz.
Francisco “Ka Tonying” Balois, one of the leaders of Igabon Platoon, Central Front – KR-Panay operating in parts of the 2nd District of Capiz and Iloilo Province (Calinog and Bingawan).
Balaois faces multiple charges including murder, robbery, and rebellion. His capture, according to the military, disrupted the NPA’s ability to organize violence in communities.
Less than two months after, on the first week of August, government troops managed to kill four more top NPA-Panay officials in Calinog, Iloilo, including one who was believed to be the rebels’ explosives expert.
Aurelio Bosque, 57, was a resident of Barangay Carvasana, Calinog. Known by aliases including Burnok and Boy, he was a member of the Regional Headquarters Executive Command of the Communist Party of the Philippines -NPA in Panay and had formerly served as a spokesperson for Bayan Muna-Panay.
His death is regarded as a major setback for the insurgent group in the region.
Jovelyn Silverio, also known as Darlyn, was a resident of Barangay Patria, Pandan, Antique. She had served as Platoon Supply Officer for the Regional Headquarters Force, KR-Panay, and had previously held the position of Political Officer for the now-dismantled Southern Panay Front.
Armando Rogelio Sabares, alias Kamlon, from Barangay Igcaratong, San Joaquin, Iloilo, was noted for his expertise in improvised explosive devices. As the NPA-Panay’s ordnance officer, he faced criminal charges for multiple murders in Antique.
Rumulo Ituriaga Gangoso, known as Reagan, a resident of Sitio Tuwang-tuwangan, Barangay Bungsuan, Dumarao, Capiz, was also among those killed. Formerly commanding the dismantled Eastern Front, KR-Panay, Gangoso had been reassigned due to illness and old age.
Jielmor Gauranoc, alias Doc, Tango, Baron, was a resident of Barangay Aras-asan, Sebaste, Antique. He was a member of the RSDG, KR-P, former member of Squad 1, Southern Panay Front (D), KR-Panay; former member of, Gaisano Squad, SPF, KR-Panay; former member of Mazda Squad, Suzuki (SYP) Platoon, SPF, KR-P, and member of Team 2, Sqd 1, Suyak (SDG) Platoon, SPF, KR-Panay.
MANAGEABLE CONFLICT
General Samson said the provinces of Antique, Iloilo, and Capiz are currently in the conflict manageable stage (CMS), the final phase before achieving SIPSS status.
This follows the earlier declaration of Negros Occidental as SIPSS in March 2024.
According to Sison, the criteria for SIPSS include the absence of significant conflict or atrocities from the New People’s Army (NPA) and a noticeable reduction in their strength and manpower.
He said only one guerilla front remains active on Panay Island, known as the Central Panay Front, which is considered to be a weakened force, and further hobbled by the deaths of Bocala, Teodosio and Hinojales.
“We are very close to declaring the whole Panay as SIPSS status, hopefully with God’s grace by the end of September 2024,” Sison said.
A recent encounter in Barangay Aglonok, Calinog, Iloilo, which resulted in the death of five NPA cadres, has further debilitated the group, said Sison.
The NPA is now struggling for food and sleep, he revealed, and urged remaining rebels to choose peace as their organization becomes increasingly irrelevant.
According to Sison, there are only some 20 NPA members left under the Central Panay Front. He is confident in achieving SIPSS status by next month, asserting, “We will not stop until these last 23 members are either captured or decide to surrender.”
Data from the 3ID showed that from 2016 until August 2024, 927 former rebels have availed themselves of various government programs, including the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and Amnesty Program, offering financial and livelihood assistance to reintegrate them into society.
“Kami na mismo ang nanawagan sa kanila na it’s better to give way to peace kasi wala naman silang ibang pupuntahan kundi either ma-capture sila o mamamatay sila,” said Sison.
For his part, Samson said: “The people of Panay natak-an na, gusto na matapos ining insurgency problem.”
Regarding government troops, Sison said: “All in ‘yong tropa natin, nandoon lahat sa bukid. Walang babaan, walang uwian because we have a timeline to accomplish. Twenty-three na lang po naiiwan. Kailangan nating tapusin, of course with that support ng stakeholders.”/PN
