Philippine Army officials in Negros Oriental yesterday claimed that the New People’s Army is planning to liquidate a battalion commander as government troops begin to shift their anti-insurgency campaign to the central and northern parts of the province.

Col. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, said they have received verified reports that the NPA is planning to assassinate Col. Marion Sison, commander of the 79th Infantry Battalion based in Siaton town, Negros Oriental.

Sison, meanwhile, said he is unfazed by the NPA plan, and added he welcomes it as it means that the rebels will be forced to come out to hunt him down.

He said the plan will be purportedly carried out by a merged group of rebels from the Komiteng Rehiyon Negros and the Komiteng Rehiyonal Sentral Bisayas-South East Front.

Sison said the rebels need to score big to boost their propaganda efforts, considering that the NPA has not had any real impact in the coverage area of the 79th IB.

Sison said the 79th IB will remain in Siaton and its area of responsibility.*JFP

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