Army, rebels swap harsh words after trading bullets

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Army said it has taken control of the operational pace and intensity against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island through the cooperation and vigilance of the people.

In a press statement issued Thursday, Major General Eric Vinoya, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID), said Negrenses are giving them accurate information on the whereabouts and activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA in Negros.

He cited the latest combat operation of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) at Barangay Binobohan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on February 28, which resulted in the death of two suspected members of the NPA’s Special Partisan Unit (SParU).

“Aside from creating a favorable battleground for the government forces, the present operational tempo in Negros also brought positive results to the Negrenses specifically those victims of communist-terrorists’ ruthlessness,” Vinoya said.

Vinoya said that with the neutralization of the SParU members, they expect rebel activities to dwindle.

Justice has been served for all innocent civilians, he added.

He said they are optimistic that they can totally eradicate the NPAs in due time, through the support of the Negrenses.

With the death of the SParU members, Vinoya renewed his persistent call to the remaining communist-terrorists in the island to surrender for them to avoid the same fate.

“We have troops everywhere. We have the support of the people. Your armed struggle is now hopeless and irrelevant, but you can still pick the best option; and that is to surrender,” Vinoya said.

Meanwhile, he also reiterated his call to the Negrenses to continue cooperating and supporting their Army in its fight against the rebels.

“Your constant support is all we need to maintain the favorable operational tempo we have right now. We are grateful that you never failed to partake in all of our peace efforts particularly in wiping out these terrorists from your communities,” he said.

In response, Ka Ann Jacinto, deputy spokesperson of Leonardo Panaligan Command-NPA, said they condemn the alleged torture of two captured NPA members by the 94th IB.

Jacinto clarified that the two guerrilla fighters were captured after the February 28 encounter and did not actually resist.

“Nonetheless, they were brutally tortured before they were killed since they did not give any information against their comrades to the soldiers,” she said.

Jacinto also claimed the ambush against 94th IB troopers on board a military truck at Barangay Luz on March 3, which injured four soldiers.

She said that their military action was a response to orders of their Regional Operational Command to launch tactical offensives against massive militarization and killings in the countryside.

She said that despite the government’s reactionary movement, the people will continue to wage a revolutionary armed struggle until social justice is achieved.