ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) targets neutralizing two guerilla fronts in Panay Island in the first quarter of 2024.
According to Lieutenant Colonel J-Jay Javines, the 3ID is eyeing dismantling the now-weak Central Front Committee (CFC) and Southern Front Committee (SFC).
The CFC covered Iloilo’s 1st district going to Antique province, while the CFC covered the central part of Iloilo going to Capiz province.
“They [guerilla groups] could hardly go down to the ground to get their foo and other supplies because we have men to stop them, thus the recent encounters,” Javines said.
To recall, on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 21, troops of the 82nd Infantry Battalion and rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) clashed in Sitio Matagsim, Barangay Aglobong, Janiuay, Iloilo.
The soldiers were conducting offensive operations when they encountered members of the Baloy Platoon, Central Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay, led by Rolando Diaz, alias “Kaduy. ”
On Nov. 12, at 8:27 a.m., an encounter took place in Sitio Bacan, Barangay Barasalon, Janiuay, between the same groups. No casualties or injuries were reported during the encounter.
Earlier, 3ID commander Major General Marion Sison said the relentless operations significantly weakened the rebels in the Visayas.
“No let up [in operations] against the rebels; that’s why we have deployment in areas where they most likely hide,” Sison said.
A recent report from 3ID showed that 141 high-ranking leaders of the NPA were neutralized.
As of November this year, 77 rebels surrendered to the 3ID; eight were captured, and 56 were killed in encounters.
There were also 162 firearms recovered, including 63 high-powered and 61 low-powered, while 38 were surrendered for safekeeping./PN
