By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Major General Eric Vinoya, commander of Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (ID) challenged the military units to deliver the final decisive blow against New People’s Army (NPA) fronts operating in Negros island.
Vinoya dished out the challenge after the military troops and the police arrested six suspected rebels, including three alleged female high-ranking leaders last week in the towns of Calatrava and Isabela, Negros Occidental.
Military troopers and the police arrested a certain Cristell Abordo alias Dulay/Matt, regional communication/intelligence staff of Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor (KR-NCBS) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NPA) and former medical staff of Regional Strike Force; Mary dem Forones alias Nancy/Mia/Ayon, regional intelligence secretary/PI ROC and executive committee member of KR-NCBS; and Rossine Enyong alias Lemay/Digna/Angel/Mary Joy, PSR Listed and GP/MO, SYP Platoon of Central Negros (CN) 1.
The trio was collared at Sitio Victory, Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava town on July 30, when government forces responded to a report of the presence of armed persons in the said area.
Three days later, Weniefredo Carillo Sr., 51, vice C.O. of Yunit Militia; Martillano Lindayao, 46; and Dimas Lindayao, 40, who were alleged members of CN1, Leonardo Panaligan Command-NPA (CN1, LPC-NPA) were also apprehended in a raid by virtue of search warrants at Barangay San Agustin, Isabela town.
Vinoya said the NPA suffered consecutive setbacks with the recent apprehension of their comrades and leaders, adding that the help and cooperation of the local populace also aided them in hunting down these armed individuals.
Vinoya lauded the continued efforts of the Army to end the local communist armed conflict in the island, as he thanked every personnel for a job well done.
He said every successful mission equates to hearing the clamor of the Negrenses for genuine and lasting peace.
“Let us continue to carry out our task until the last enemy unit is dissolved and its members neutralized by either surrender, apprehension or, in the worst case, death,” he added.
He said their campaign against insurgency should have no let-up despite the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
