The National Democratic Front yesterday dismissed as “psy-war gimmicks” the much-publicized claims of the military that they are gaining grounds in their anti-insurgency campaign in Negros.

On the contrary, NDF-Negros spokesperson Frank Fernandez said the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, which has operational control of the 302nd and 303rd Infantry Brigades, failed to achieve their objective of destroying the revolutionary forces in Negros, despite the deployment of more troops.

Fernandez, in a statement sent to DAILY STAR, said that being desperate to accomplish the targets set by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, the military, assisted by the police,  have launched decisive and aggressive operations against the New People’s Army, which, he claimed, only victimized innocent civilians.

He cited the alleged massacre of civilians in Canlaon City, salvaging of two farmers in Santa Catalina, all in Negros Oriental, the arrest of five farmers in Himamaylan City, and of peasant leader Crisanto Fat in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Brig. Gen. Josue Gaverza, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said Fernandez is “panicking”, and trying to “reverse the situation” in a bid to boost the morale of his comrades.

Gaverza also dismissed as propaganda the claims of Fernandez that the NPA is growing stronger in Negros. “Does killing their former comrades who wanted to live a normal life, and civilians on suspicions of being military informants indicate that they stronger?” he asked.

“It’ is a sign of desperation,” he added.

Gaverza said the government’s Social Integration Program, aimed at providing comprehensive support services to rebel returnees and their families, has attracted more insurgents to abandon the armed struggle.

Under the SIP, a rebel returnee can expect to receive an immediate assistance of P20,000, another P50,000 for a surrendered high-powered firearms, and P50,000 livelihood support after completion of a series of livelihood skills trainings.

But Fernandez claimed that military officials used the much-publicized SIP as a milking cow to enrich themselves as the expense of what he calls “fake rebel returnees”.

He also castigated some officials of the Commission on Human Rights in Negros for justifying the human rights violations committed by the military.

Fernandez said the New People’s Army launched 10 tactical offensives from January to May this year, citing the ambush of three soldiers in Guihulngan and the successful raid of the ECJ farm in Brgy. Tooy, Himamaylan, among its accomplishments.

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is targeting to reduce the NPA in Negros, to an insignificant level by 2010.

Fernandez said the military is doomed to fail in its objective to crush the revolutionary forces in Negros. On the contrary, the NPA is now elevating the armed struggle into a higher level, with the support of the people, he said.*GPB

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