The trust and support of the government officials in Negros Occidental serves as inspiration to Philippine Army soldiers in their quest to help bring peace and development to Negrenses, the Army's 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said Wednesday.
In a statement , 3ID thanked Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Negros Association of Chief Executives (Negros ACE) led by Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. “for their strong support in our mission to safeguard peace and progress in Negros Island Region.”
Capt. Jessie Jun Ebalan, chief of 3ID Public Affairs Division, said the troops value the recognition to their sacrifices to ensure the safety and freedom of Negrenses.
“Their trust in the Army inspires our soldiers to continue serving with dedication and courage, knowing that the communities we protect stand firmly behind us,” he added.
Last week, Lacson defended the encounter of the 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) troops with the New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Toboso town that claimed the lives of 19 individuals identified as NPA members, calling it a legitimate military operation.
The 79IB troops are under the 303rd Infantry Brigade, which is being supervised by the 3ID.
Among those who died in the April 19 clash in Barangay Salamanca was the dismantled Northern Negros Front leader Roger Fabillar Tapang, who had been linked to the summary executions of civilians in the area since 2022.
“We believe that it was a legitimate encounter. I think we should also realize that the Army could not have done that without information from the community,” the governor said.
In a statement, the Negros ACE said they “recognize the duty and mandate of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to uphold peace and security” and “support the continued efforts of the AFP to preserve peace and stability in our region”.
The Negrense mayors also “strongly urged the NPA and their cadres to abandon the path of armed struggle”.
“We echo the call of the governor and the Negros ACE for the remaining members of the communist-terrorist group to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law. We encourage those still in the mountains to choose the path of healing and reconciliation, and to work with the government and communities in building a peaceful and progressive Negros,” Ebalan said.
On April 28, the municipal council of Toboso unanimously declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front as persona non grata (unwelcome) and reiterated the municipality’s “full support to the AFP, the Philippine National Police and other government agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and security”.*
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