Anti-insurgency campaign strengthens in NegOr

By Jennifer C. Tilos

Wednesday 11th of July 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 11 (PIA) -- Four members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered last week at the 79th Infantry Brigade in 3rd district of Negros Oriental.

Army’s Information Officer, Capt. Anecito Naz said the surrender was brought by the series of encounters and the presence of Peace and Development Teams right in the established mass base areas.

The surrenderees were members of the South East Front of the Kilusang Rehiyon Sentral Bisayas, said Naz.

The surrender of the NPA members, Naz said was also characterized by the timely and quality information fed to the troops coming from the people in the conflict affected areas that led to the armed engagements and snowballing of surrender of their active armed members.

Army’s record shows that from 2008, there are 90 armed members of the NPAs in the said area that are deployed in four platoons operating in the hinterlands of the 2nd and 3rd districts of the province.

Naz said the members of the armed regulars were continuously reduced up to less than 30 for the first semester of 2012. The number of platoons was reduced to only one operating in the hinterlands of Sta Catalina and Siaton.

“The main reason for the NPAs to go back to the folds of the law is the hardship they endured while in the armed group. Time has come that they realized the futility of the armed struggle as a solution to the issues/problems in the hinterlands communities,” said the army officer.

On the other hand, “Winning the Peace” instead of “Defeating the Enemy” is a very popular approach of the military in addressing insurgency problem in the province.

The government, military and other stakeholders which crafted the Integrated Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan is optimistic that the conflict will end in a peaceful way.

Peace and progress can be achieved through convergence of effort and fostering solidarity among the Filipino people.

Meanwhile, Col Francisco Patrimonio, Commander of the Army’s 302 Brigade based in Camp Leon Kilat, Tanjay City said the brigade and its controlled units will continue to offer the NPAs peace and is willing to help through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) for those NPA members who want to go back to the mainstream of society and abandon the armed struggle. (mbcn/JCT-PIA7 Negros Oriental)