CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The Armed Forces of the Philippines is working hard to finally dismantle the New People’s Army and eyeing the zero presence of communist rebels in the island of Mindoro by the end of this year.
Col. Eric D. Guevarra, deputy brigade commander of the 203rd Brigade based in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro, said they are focusing their forces in Mindoro after the provinces of Romblon and Marinduque were declared as insurgency-free and Palawan was proclaimed as an area with Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the island on September 1, 2023.
GUEVARRA (PIA)
Guevarra said that in the province of Oriental Mindoro, four municipalities, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Naujan, and Baco, had been declared insurgency-free, with Victoria the latest on August 14, 2024.
He said that they are monitoring three armed units of the Sub-Regional Military Area (SRMA) 4-D of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) operating in Mindoro – ICM (Ignacio Claveria Mangadia), MAV (Mark Anthony Velasco), and Glen Marie Tamboong (GMT) Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG).
The military engaged communist rebels in three encounters in the province from January to July this year, in the towns of Bulalacao and Mansalay. Eight NPA rebels were killed and six firearms were recovered.
Guevarra encouraged remaining members of the NPA in the province to surrender and avail of the opportunities being offered by the government through amnesty and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration (E-CLIP) program.
He was one of the resource speakers during the 12th episode of the Philippine Information Agency Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, August 13, at the 203rd IB Camp in Bansud.
The other speaker, Commodore Constancio A. Reyes Jr., deputy commander for external defense operations of the Armed Forces Western Command, said that they have conducted 41 inter-agency maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
REYES (PIA)
The Kapihan is a weekly press forum organized by the Presidential Communications Office through the PIA to amplify public understanding and awareness on the different programs and projects of the national government.