Army to NPA: Surrender or be killed for a lost cause

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

The Philippine Army had an odd way of gifting the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on its 52nd founding anniversary on Dec 26.

The present came in the form of members of the 61st Infantry Battalion overrunning the hideout of the New People’s Army, the CPP armed wing, at Barangay Tigmarabo, Miagao, Iloilo.

Following the development, the 3rd Infantry Division stressed that it will be relentless in its military operations in the Panay and Negros Islands amid the Holiday season.

“This is part of our mandate to maintain peace in the region. More troops will be on the ground to make sure that our units are at all times at the advantage position against the terrorist group,” Major Cenon Pancito III, 3rd ID spokesperson, said.

Pancito added their successive operations will make sure that the NPAs will no longer be able to organize, plan, and conduct tactical offensives against government troops and installations.

“We cannot afford to loosen the pressure that is why even at the height of our celebration for the holidays, soldiers have to be in the communities and deny enemy presence,” he said.

Pancito declared that the 3rd ID is mightier than any unit of the NPA operating in Panay.

“We intend to continue these efforts until the last guerilla front is dismantled. They only have two options, Surrender or be killed for a lost cause,” he said.

Before the Army troops seized the NPA lair in Miagao, the soldiers engaged the rebels in an armed battle at around 1 pm Saturday.

Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61st IB commander, said the firefight happened while the 61st IB troops were conducting community security patrol.

“We need to patrol the area to ensure a peaceful celebration of holidays in the hinterland barangays following information from the local populace on the presence of the NPA terrorists in the area who are planning to conduct atrocities during the Yuletide season.”

Batara said they engaged in an armed battle with around 40 rebels from the Suyak (SDG) Platoon, Southern Front of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay under Joven Ceralvo alias Lex.

After the 20-minute gunfight, the troops overran the enemy hideout and seized two 12-gauge shotguns, a hand grenade, ten backpacks, a projector, two mobile phones, a binocular, and subversive documents.

No one was injured on the government side.

Batara is not discounting the possibility that there were wounded NPA combatants as bloodstains were seen in their escape routes.

Meanwhile, Batara assured that the Philippine Army troops will do all the necessary means to secure the community for the Holidays

He also encouraged the residents to be more vigilant and report immediately the presence and plans of NPA terrorist in their barangays.

“We are calling the remaining NPA members in the mountains to come down, live a normal life and celebrate holidays with your families and friends, and be a productive member of the community,” Batara said.