The New People’s Army is trying to expand and recover areas it formerly controlled in Negros Occidental, because of their displacement in Negros Oriental, Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said.

Baladad, who supervises the internal security operations in Negros and Panay islands, said Negros Oriental is becoming peaceful, while the NPA remnants, who had been displaced by sustained military operations, coupled with Bayanihan activities, are fleeing towards Negros Occidental.

“We want to prevent that,” Baladad, who met with representatives of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Friday in Talisay City in Negros Occidental, said.

Baladad said, “We need the support of everybody in addressing the insurgency problem under the Bayanihan concept”.

He condemned the series of killings in Negros island, including the killing of two civilians by the NPA in Isabela and Siaton towns, as well as the recent attack of an hacienda compound in Kabankalan City, where the rebels held 25 civilians as hostages.

In a statement is issued the National Democratic Front-Negros, laughed off the military claims that the NPA is getting weaker in Negros. On the contrary, NDF spokesman Frank Fernandez claimed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines failed to crush the revolutionary movement.

Baladad reported that 45 rebels surrendered to them last year in Negros and Panay.*GPB

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