BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Amid an enemy propaganda offensive described by some former Communist cadres as a “desperate attempt,” ground units of the Philippine Army have become relentless in scouring the countryside here in search of the remaining armed elements of the New People’s Army that has been “severely weakened” and operating without military and Party leaders.
The 62nd Infantry Battalion based in Isabela town here reported the death of another armed regular of the NPA after two armed skirmishes over the weekend in upland areas bordering the Occidental and Oriental provinces of Negros island.
The Army’s Visayas Command identified the dead rebel as Joel E Blasco, who goes by the rebel code “Carpo,” and a known fighter under the Central Negros Front 1, a rebel territory founded by captured and convicted former priest Frank Fernandez.
The dispatch from Major Cherry Gervacio, the Division’s public affairs officer, also quoted Third ID chief, Major General Marion Sison as lamenting the death of Carpo whom Sison described as “another Negrense who was a victim of the deceitful manipulation of the Communist-terrorist group.”
“While it is sad that we lost another life, we also want to reiterate that our warning stands. For those who espouse terrorism, we will render you irrelevant,” he said.
First Lieutenant Mary Liza Joy De Guzman, 62nd civil military officer, on the other hand, said in a separate dispatch fron Isabela town that the rebels and the 62nd troopers clashed twice, first around 6am on Saturday, 5 August 2023, in Leong, a mountain community in the village of Imelda in Guihulngan City.
The second clash on the next day, 6 August 2023, was around noontime in the Occidental town of Moises Padilla.
The second clash site, Cansimba, is a mountain community in Quintin Remo, the village where the 62nd also clashed with an NPA unit 20 July 2023.
The July clash left two rebels dead, one idemtified as Marivic “Ivan” Ebarle, who reportedly heads a guerrilla unit respinsible for the murders of civilians in upland areaa.
Sison added in his statement today that “In response to people’s clamor for an NPA-free community, in collaboration and cooperation with Task Force-ELCAC, our troops will relentlessly pursue these terrorists until they are incapable of sowing fear and terror,” Sison added.
