Bacolod City – Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino over-the-weekend ordered the Visayas Command, led by Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, to sustain the momentum against the New People’s Army, and to end the insurgency problem in the region soon.
Centino visited the AFP Visayas Command headquarters in Camp Lapu Lapu, Cebu, where he was welcomed by Lt. Gen. Arevalo.
VISCOM supervises Army’s 3rd and 8th Infantry Divisions, Philippine Air Force and Navy in Visayas region. It delivered another huge blow to CPP-NPA, following the surrender of seven rebels under the Eastern Visayas Party Committee, to the 87th Infantry Battalion in Samar.
The seven rebels also surrendered a 60mm mortar with nine ammunition, three M14 assault rifles, an M16 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, and assorted ammunition.
Gen. Centino commended VISCOM and all its subordinate units for a job well done, not only in going after the threat groups in the region, but also in performing other mandates.
From January to March 22 this year, VISCOM internal security operations resulted in the successful neutralization of 66 rebels, where 12 died in gun battles, five were apprehended, while 49 have returned to the folds of the law, while seizing 85 firearms, including one 60mm mortar.
Lt. Gen. Arevalo assured Gen. Centino that they will keep up the momentum.
“We will sustain our gains against the CPP–NPA and we will never leave any stones unturned in addressing the insurgency situation in the Visayas region, he added. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)