The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division aims to recommend the declaration of Negros Island as insurgency-free in the first quarter of 2024.
Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, in his speech during the 4th quarter meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Iloilo City on Tuesday, Dec. 12, said that there is only one guerilla front left in Negros and the military hopes that it will be dismantled by the end of the year.
“By the 1st quarter of 2024, we aim to recommend the declaration of the entire Negros Island as insurgency-free,” Sison said.
During the RPOC quarterly meeting, the army presented the insurgency situation and counter-insurgency achievements in Western Visayas from January 2023 to present.
They reported that they conducted 71 government-initiated encounters leading to the neutralization of 102 New People’s Army rebels and the capture of 142 assorted firearms.
The 3ID also reported that it had neutralized nine high-value individuals, six key leaders of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG), and eight finance officers in 2023.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, RPOC 6 chairperson, led the meeting, together with the other members of the regional council.
During the meeting, the illegal drugs situation in Region 6 and updates on the Barangay Drug Clearing Program review were discussed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 6, while the Police Regional Office- 6 reported on the peace and order situation and accomplishments.
The council also discussed the designation of a RPOC 6 representative to the NAPOLCOM Regional Office 6 Police Regional Appellate Board, proposed activities for 2024, and the Search for the Outstanding Barangay Tanod.*