30 NPA rebels neutralized in Visayas Region – PA

AT least thirty suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) had been neutralized in various operations conducted by government forces in Visayas last month.

Lt. Col. Israel Galorio, chief of public affairs of the Visayas Command, said the neutralized rebels include 14 killed, one captured, and 15 others who surrendered to authorities.

Galorio said that among those killed were three ranking NPA leaders -- Rolando Caballera, NPA Regional Executive committee member in Eastern Visayas; Domingo Compoc, top leader in Bohol; and Rena Rhea Camariosa, 2nd Deputy Secretary of the Southern Panay Front.

He said government soldiers also seized 47 firearms, including 34 highpowered guns, during the February operations in Bohol, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

Galorio said the operation was initiated through the efforts of Joint Task Force (Spear) and Joint Task Force (Storm) beefed up by Naval Forces Central of the Philippine Navy and the Tactical Operations Wing Central (Towen) throughout the Visayas region.

“Mission is not yet over,” said Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, chief of the Visayas Command. “We may have achieved significant gains in our campaign during the month but there’s still more that needs to be done.”

“Our forces are now focused on preventing the resurgence of the CPP-NPA in the Visayas by neutralizing the few remaining members of the terrorist group,” added Arevalo.

Arevalo said the success of their campaign in the early stage this year is attributed to the active support of the people, who, he added, have been freed from the clutches of the terrorist group last year.

“This is the reason why we cannot stop. We must and we will sustain our gains, for it is through the call of our people to end the CPP-NPA in the region that we strive and will remain committed to our mandate of ending the local communist armed conflict, the soonest possible time,” stressed Arevalo.

Arevalo said they will not hesitate to use their full might to achieve their objective.

“We have the manpower and the resources. As what the terrorist group has experienced in the recent skirmishes these past few days, we will not hesitate to use our full military might to achieve our objective,” he declared.