93 CPP-NPA ‘sympathizers’ yield in Visayas
CAMP LAPULAPU, Cebu City – In what the military described as a major “setback” on the insurgents, the Visayas Command reported yesterday that 93 more members of the “Communist Affiliated Mass Organization” (CAMO) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Eastern Visayas surrendered.
VICOM (Visayas Command) said the CPP/NPA continues to “weaken” after the mass surrender of 93 members.
According to Major Ace Galorio, VISCOM spokesman, this development came following the withdrawal of support of 93 members of the CAMOs in Alangalang, Leyte, on January 19.
These terrorist-affiliated organizations, Galorio said, were led by cadres who are members of the Regional White Area Committee (RWAC) under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).
This mass withdrawal of support was realized through the active partnership between and among security forces, local government units (LGUs), and other government line agencies through the Provincial Task Forces ELCAC of Leyte.
“Likewise, on January 18, an arms cache of the communist terrorist was discovered by the members of the 87th Infantry Battalion at Bgy. Sto. Nino, Paranas, Samar. The discovery was the result of information provided by a former rebel to the troops. The arms cache contains two M653 Rifles, one M4 Rifle, one M16 Rifle, four long magazines, and one short magazine,” said Galorio.
Major Gen. Benedict M. Arevalo (Philippine Army), the commander of VISCOM, emphasized that “the CPP-NPA in the region continues to weaken, as their ranks are in a state of low morale. Their organization is suffering from a leadership vacuum, having lost several key personalities in the series of engagements with the government troops, and their armed capability is drastically degraded. These are apart from the increasing number of former CTG (communist terrorist group) supporters and sympathizers in the region who withdrew their support from the terrorist group.”
It can be recalled that on January 12, a mass surrender of the members of the NPA, including their leaders, occurred in Bgy. Fatima, Hinabangan, Samar wherein 13 communist terrorists under Bugsok Platoon of Sub-regional Committee Sesame (SRC Sesame) of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) operating in Pinabacdao, Calbiga, and Basey, Samar return to the folds of the law and yielded 13 firearms along with several other war materiel and medical supplies.
Arevalo added that “We are delighted as they answered the call of the government for them to take the path of peace. Their surrender signifies that they are already fed up with the false promises of the CPP-NPA. We welcome them with open arms and encourage them to actively support the government in its efforts to attain just and lasting peace in the region, as the government is likewise sincere with its initiatives on reintegrating them (into mainstream) society. As for the few remaining members of the communist terrorist, we urged you to let go of the terrorist ideology and be a part of the genuine solution. Lay down your arms, abandon your armed struggle and return to the folds of the law.”
