The relentless campaign against insurgency by the Armed Forces of the Philippines are now showing promising results and is raising expectations of people in Eastern Visayas that insurgency finally ending in the region.
In a recent feat, members of the AFP Joint Task Force Storm (JTS) were able to track and kill six alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the uplands of Barangay Imelda, Las Navas, in Northern Samar with the help of the locals who tipped the location of the reds using an undisclosed technology that the military currently has.
JTF Storm and 8th Infantry Division Commander Major General Camilo Ligayo said they were able to identify some of the casualties as members of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).
The said group was responsible for the October 7 raid on Barangay Dorillo, Jipapad, Eastern Samar where two soldiers were killed and three injured including an innocent child.
Eliminating the leaders
Ligayo also confirmed the death of Helenita Pardales also known as Ka Elai, the top leader of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee and two other provincial leaders in Northern Samar who were identified by former members.
“This is a big blow to their organization since there is a leadership vacuum. The remaining guerrilla fronts operating in Northern Samar will have no guidance. We all know that they don’t have a succession of command,” Philippine Army 20th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Joemar Buban said.
Along with the death of the leader, the army was able to recover 18 firearms which Buban believes to be an indication that the reds have been demoralized and their firepower weakened.
“They will surely suffer from starvation since we have already cleared neighboring villages. We have also recovered several mobile phones and they will not be able to contact their supporters,” Capt. Valben Almirante, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 803rd Brigade said
End the fighting
Despite the differences, the local officials and the military in Las Navas gave the slain rebels a decent burial after no family members claimed the cadavers.
Las Navas Mayor Arlito Tan called on the remaining NPA members to finally put an end to the endless fighting and to surrender and lay down their arms.
"Come down because our government will help you have a happy and peaceful life by extending livelihood assistance,” Tan added.
Meanwhile, as the remaining rebel groups attempt to recover another loss, Philippine Army 43rd Infantry Battalion (IB) has stepped up its hunt for the remaining seven fighters in the mountains of Northern Samar’s first district.
“We are intensifying our focused military operations to neutralize the NPA remnants. They are weak and without support from previously- influenced communities,” 1st Lt. Benigno Lopez, spokesperson of the 43rd IB said.
The army had also posted photos of the seven remaining NPA members in the remote barangays for the people to easily identify them and speed up their arrest.
“No more gun fights”
For years the gap between the army and the rebels had not only cost the lives of members from both camps. Innocent civilians were caught in the gun battles.
“Hanggat may pagkakataon mas mabuting magbalik loob na ng maging masaya ang inyong kapaskohan kapiling mga mahal niyo sa buhay at maging mapayapa at matahimik at masaya ang inyong buong pamilya,” netizen Nicky said on her Facebook account.
“Matapos na gad unta, makaluluoy it kabataan nagka totrauma nala intawon hit pirmi nala purogsilay. Parepareho la kita mga Pilipino, di na gad unta mag patayay,” netizen Adel posted.