ARMY'S COUNTER-INSURGENCY DRIVE GAINS HEADWAY
The Philippine Army's intensified campaign against communist insurgency
continues to gain headway with the surrender of 44 New People's Army
members, arrest of 14 others, discovery and neutralization of 19 NPA
camps , recovery of various firearms and ammunition and eight killed
during encounters in the month of November alone.
A trend of large number of surrenderees among the NPA leaders and its
members every month manifests the rebels willingness to embrace a life
of peace and the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to achieve an
"insurgency-free country."
Reports reaching the Philippine Army headquarters revealed that most of
the surrenderees, which include four NPA leaders, decided to return to
the folds of law after realizing that they have been fooled by the
organization’s false promises . Others fear for their lives after
engaging with the government troops in several encounters and have felt
the difficulties of aimlessly running and living in the mountain.
A cetain Juan Galapo, member of the Militia ng Bayan Pang Edukasyon/
liaison/Komiteng Tig-organisa, and Samahang Partido Pangpulitika (SPP),
who surrendered to the government troops on November 29, expressed
diappointments in the organization who has mislead him.
Galapo, decided to surrender after feeling "exhausted, tired, and
disillusioned of being used as a puppet and a pawn of the communists'
rotten ideology."
Moreover, seven NPA members who surrendered in Negros region, revealed
that the death of their leader Edgardo Sumayang @ Pao/Joas, Secretary of
the NPAs Southwest Negros Front, was the catalyst that urged them to
give up armed struggle.
"Without Ka Pao, bullying and intimidating us in Camindangan, we can now
think freely for ourselves. Before his death, Pao would brainwash us
into hating soldiers and the Government. But later on, we saw for
ourselves that the soldiers were just like us; they are regular people
too. And they treated us fairly and with kindness. A sharp contrast to
Ka Pao and the NPA, who were abusive to us and our community," the
surrenderee's appointed spokesman, Antonio Tan @ Erning/Buto, a
self-confessed Party member of the Communist Party of the Philippines,
revealed during the surrenderees' presentation to the media.
Records from the Philippine Army headquarters show that in October 2010,
42 New People's Army members renounced their armed struggle and embraced
a life of peace. Out of 49, seven were NPA leaders and a minor. In
September 2010, a total of 41 NPA surrendered to the government troops,
six of which were NPA leaders and two were minors.
In addition, 14 NPA rebels were apprehended while eight others were
killed in intensified military operations all over the country in
November alone.
This includes the arrest of Jovie Gajelloma @ Diding, Squad Leader of
Platoon 2, “PALMOLIVE” of SEF, KRSB in Brgy Mayabon, Zamboanguita Negros
Oriental on November 11 by elements of Army's 79th Infantry Battalion.
Likewise another NPA leader identified as Emily Mangao, Team Leader of
Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Sitio Cambayang and Vice Team Leader ng
Samahan ng Magsasaka was arrested in Oriental Mindoro on November 27.
Meanwhile, 19 enemy abandoned camps were discovered by the Army troops
in different parts of the country, 13 of which were found in Samar.
The Army's intensified operations also resulted to the recovery of
various firearms and ammunition including one M16 rifle, two M14 rifles,
three hand grenades, homemade shotgun and ammunition. |
The gains achieved by the Philippine Army are indications that efforts
by all members of the organization are slowly paying off. This likewise
entail that the campaign against communist insurgency is effective.
These developments will encourage the soldiers more to help end
insurgency with the end goal of delivering lasting peace and development
in the country. #
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