Army Seeks Community Support to End NPA Presence in South Negros

The Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) on Monday enjoined community cooperation to put an end to the presence of the New People’s Army (NPA) in southern Negros.

The 15IB, based in Cauayan town, issued the call after a 74-year-old woman, Leonora “Leonor” Anguit, was executed by armed men who claimed to be NPA rebels in Barangay Tapi, Kabankalan City on Feb. 3.

“The citizens of the sixth district of Negros Occidental are urged not to give in to fear, but to unite, remain strong, and continue to fight for peace. With our unity, we will finally drive out the influence of the terrorist NPA, and maintain a safe, orderly, and peaceful future for all,” it said in a statement.

Aside from Cauayan and Kabankalan, the sixth district includes the municipalities of Ilog, Candoni, Hinoba-an and Sipalay City.

In an earlier statement, Lt. Col. Roberto Maduli, commanding officer of 15IB, said they are “closely coordinating with the Philippine National Police and the local government unit to ensure a fair, objective, and comprehensive investigation”.

“The 15IB assures the community that justice will be pursued through lawful means and that all efforts will be undertaken to safeguard the lives and welfare of the people,” Maduli said as he called for support to the authorities by providing any information that may help in the ongoing investigation.

Over the weekend, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) asked the PNP “to intensify manhunts, evidence-gathering, and case build-up to ensure arrests and strong prosecutions” as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and intelligence units “to strengthen focused operations against armed groups conducting ‘liquidations,’ especially in threatened barangays”.

According to reports, the house of Anguit was occupied by seven of NPA remnants who were killed in a clash with Philippine Army soldiers in April last year.

The NTF-ELCAC said that aside from Anguit, 25 other civilians were killed after being labeled “informants.”

“These killings were even claimed by NPA units and formations. That shows intent – and a disturbing pride in targeting unarmed people. This is not revolution. It is terror,” Ernesto Torres Jr., executive director of NTF-ELCAC, said in a statement.* (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)