Military operations will continue against the New People’s Army in Negros Island as the Armed Forces of the Philippines has not declared a ceasefire this Christmas, BGen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said on Monday, Dec. 18.
Edralin said that the AFP has not declared a ceasefire so their operations will continue over the holidays to ensure that the upcoming celebrations will be safe.
“It is part of our job but our door is open to anyone to go back to the folds of the law”, Edralin said.
He also said that the number of rebels on the island has been dwindling.
“We are in an all out military operation”, he said, adding “They can run but cannot hide”.
Edralin said that members of the community have been giving them real-time information about the rebels’ whereabouts.
Apart from dismantling rebel groups, the 303rd IB commander also said that they are still aiming to dismantle the vertical forces that reinforce the guerilla fronts in Negros Island.
He also assured that they are doing their best to achieve an insurgency-free Negros Island and called for the help of the local government units and the communities to attain it.*