BACOLOD CITY – Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino has ordered the military to go aggressive to further weaken New People’s Army (NPA) guerilla fronts in Negros Island.
GEN. Andres Centino, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), speaks in a media interview during his visit to the Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) headquarters in Barangay Libas, Isabela, Negros Occidental on Thursday, May 25. (Screengrab from 62nd IB video)
Centino issued the order after the series of encounters in which 10 NPA rebels were killed in Moises Padilla and Cauayan towns in Negros Occidental and Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental on May 20 and 21.
In a media interview, Centino said he is hoping that the insurgency problem in Negros Island will end as soon as possible.
Centino visited the Army 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) headquarters in Barangay Libas, Isabela, Negros Occidental on Thursday, May 25, four days after the series of weekend encounters on the island.
Some firearms, ammunition, and other war materiel recovered from the clashes were presented to Centino during his visit.
Centino said there are challenges along the way, but he noted that the Army in Negros has sufficient forces that could address the insurgency problem.
He said the Army needs to prepare for missions, adding that they should not let these weakened guerilla fronts recover.
Centino said that weakened guerilla fronts are those that have armed members but have no mass-based support.
He thanked Negrenses and the local leaders for helping the national government address insurgency in the country.