BACOLOD CITY – NPA rebels killed at least 47 persons on Negros Island from 2022 to 2023, a report released by the military showed.
The fatalities include 34 civilians, five soldiers, three former rebels, four government officials, and one policeman.
In a press conference at the Social Hall of the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday, Oct. 10, the military said 25 of the killings were owned by the NPA.
Data also showed that the killings from January to August this year reached 27 which was higher than the total for the entire 2022.
Of the five NPA guerrilla fronts in Negros, three have been dismantled and two have weakened, the military said.
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The NPA that operates on Negros Island is under the Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, it said.
Of its six guerilla fronts five operate on Negros Island, the military said the Northern Negros Front, Central Negros Front 1, and South East Front that have been dismantled while the Central Negros Front 2 and South West Front that have weakened.
As of the third quarter of 2023, the military estimated the NPA manpower in Negros at 53 with 197 firearms.
Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade (IB) commander, said the NPA rebels have stepped up their atrocities as part of their campaign to make it appear that they still exist.
The NPA has also burned a backhoe owned by Silver Dragon Construction in Purok Magboto, Barangay Cabia-an, Candoni; three Isuzu SKW sugarcane trucks at Sitio Carbon, Barangay San Isidro, Toboso; and two Isuzu SKW sugarcane trucks at Sitio Proper Barangay Tabun-ac, Toboso all in Negros Occidental.
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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on all stakeholders, “to bring an end to violence and conflict and cultivate an environment where dialog and understanding can overcome hostility.”
He called on all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to “the values of peace, justice, and compassion that define humanity.”
Lacson congratulated the 3rd Infantry Division led by Maj. Gen. Marion Sison and the 303rd IB led by Edralin for their successful efforts in reducing the eight active NPA Guerilla Fronts on Panay and Negros Occidental to three.
“As I mentioned before, we did not choose this fight. However, we need to do what is necessary to promote and maintain our peace and order, and to safeguard our national security and interests,” Lacson said.
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