ILOILO CITY – The Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID) thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for acknowledging its anti-insurgency efforts in the Visayas.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with Major Gen.Marion Sison, the chief of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. (Army 3rd ID photo)
“We are indeed fortunate that our President visited us and acknowledged our efforts to end local communist armed conflict in Western and Central Visayas,” said Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, after the President led a command conference in Camp Peralta, the headquarters of the 3ID in Jamindan, Capiz, on October 6.
Sison presented the anti-insurgency programs and efforts to crush the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Western and Central Visayas to the President.
Sison highlighted Army efforts in dismantling remaining guerrilla fronts from eight in 2018 to three at present.
Government forces were able to neutralize around 137 rebels and communist supporters and seized 118 firearms in 73 encounters with New People’s Army rebels.
Marcos cited the troops and awaits more areas in the Visayas to be declared insurgency-free.
“With strong partnership, cooperation, and collaboration with our stakeholders, let us continue to work together towards our goal of declaring our area of operations free from the influence of the communist groups,” added Sison.