The New People Army rebels have violently killed 47 persons in Negros Island, 31 of whom were civilians, from 2022 to 2023, the military reported on Tuesday, October 10.
There were 34 civilians, five soldiers, three former rebels, four government officials, and one policeman killed, the military reported at a press conference on NPA atrocities in Negros held at the Social Hall of the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday, October 10.
Twenty-five of the killings were owned by the NPA, the report said.
Military data also showed that the killings from January to August this year were 27, which are higher than the total for the entire 2022.
This despite the military report that of the five NPA guerrilla fronts in Negros, three have been dismantled and two have weakened.
The NPA that operates in Negros Island is under the Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, it said.
Of the its six Guerilla Fronts five operate in Negros Island - the Northern Negros Front, Central Negros Front 1 and South East Front that have been dismantled, and the Central Negros Front 2 and South West Front that have weakened, the military reported.
As of the 3rd Quarter of 2023, the military estimated the NPA manpower in Negros at 53 with 197 firearms, it added. Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the NPA rebels have stepped up their atrocities as part of their propaganda campaign to make it appear that they still exist.
The NPA have also burned a backhoe owned by the Silver Dragon Construction in Purok Magboto, Brgy. Cabia-an, Candoni, three Isuzu SKW sugarcane trucks at Sitio Carbon, Brgy. San Isidro, Toboso, and two Isuzu SKW sugarcane trucks at Sitio Proper Barangay Tabun-ac, Toboso all in Negros Occidental, the military reported.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on all stakeholders, “to bring an end to violence and conflict and cultivate an environment where dialog and understanding can overcome hostility”.
He called on all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to “the values of peace, justice, and compassion that define humanity”.Lacson congratulated the 3rd Infantry Division led by Maj. Gen. Marion Sison and the 303IB led by Edralin for their successful efforts in reducing the eight active NPA Guerilla Fronts in Panay and Negros Occidental to three.
“As I mentioned before, we did not choose this fight. However, we need to do what is necessary to promote and maintain our peace and order, and to safeguard our national security and interests,” Lacson said.*