THE commander of the military’s Visayas Command (Viscom) reiterated his appeal to New People’s Army rebels to surrender following the killing of seven insurgents during a military operation in Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental last Sunday.
“We will never stop and will continue to press on in the fight to end the local communist armed conflict in the Visayas region,” said Viscom commander Lt. Gen. Fernando Reyeg in a statement.
“As such, we call on the few remaining members of the terrorist group to heed the call of the government, lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law, for we will not hesitate to use the full force of the law against those who continue to threaten the safety and well-being of our people,” added Reyeg.
Last Sunday morning, Army soldiers conducted a combat operation in Barangay Tapi that led to a series of firefights that left NPA leader Reniel Cellon and six others deads.
Seven high-powered firearms and a pistol were also recovered at the scene, the military said.
Reyeg said the cooperation of the community contributed to the successful operation against the remnants of the Southwestern Front of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon NCBS (Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor).
“The timely and accurate information provided by our people allowed our troops to respond swiftly and decisively. Your trust in your Armed Forces in the Visayas is vital in our shared mission to build a safer and more prosperous region.”
Reyeg said the death of the seven rebels further weakened the NPA in Visayas.
“This series of successful encounters is a testament to the unwavering commitment and professionalism of our troops. The neutralization of these remaining NPA terrorists brings the Visayas region closer to achieving stability and security.”
