BACOLOD CITY – The Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID) is eyeing to declare Negros Island insurgency free by the end of this year.
Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, guest of honor during the 37th founding anniversary of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) in Camp Major Nelson Gerona in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Thursday, July 20, said that statistically, they are about 70 to 75 percent victorious against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), based on the number of surrenderers, killed enemies, and recovered firearms.
MAJOR Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID), delivers a message during the 37th founding anniversary of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) led by Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin (seated right) in Camp Major Nelson Gerona in Murcia, Negros Occidental on Thursday, July 20. (Photo courtesy of Richard Malihan/Capitol PIO)
Sison added that almost 100 percent of the NPA-influenced barangays on the island have been cleared.
He is hoping that by the end of this year or by the end of the quarter, they will be able to dismantle Central Negros (CN) 1, CN2, and Southwest Guerilla Front, particularly in the Candoni, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Cauayan, Kabankalan, and Sipalay (Chicks) area in Negros Occidental.
Sison lauded the 303rd IBde for its big contributions in ending insurgency in the Visayas.
“It is but fitting to congratulate you (303rd IBde),” Sison said, adding that the 3rd ID received many awards during their recent command conference in the national headquarters in Manila because of the accomplishments of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 62nd IB in Negros Occidental under the 303rd IBde.
Sison noted that the 303rd IBde only had four major engagements against the NPA in four consecutive weeks and urged the unit to continue the conduct of operations.
“Let us maintain and continue to press the fight. Hindi pa tapos lahat (It's not yet over). Do not rest on our laurels,” Sison said, adding that this is the right time for them to finish the enemy and prepare themselves for territorial defense.
"With God's grace, hopefully we can declare the whole Negros Island insurgency-free by the end of this year," Sison said.