CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — The Philippine Army has been emphasizing the importance of the military-community partnership in the success of security operations.
This was after a series of clashes between the New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists and the troops of the 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division (2ID), Philippine Army in Oriental Mindoro.
Major General Cerilo Balaoro Jr., the 2ID commander, said that the close relationship between the military and the communities in the province would make the terrorists’ hiding impossible.
“The terrorists have no more place to hide because of the strong partnership between the military and the communities we serve,” Balaoro said.
Earlier, an encounter took place in the town of Bongabong recently, where soldiers from the 2ID successfully overrun an NPA hideout, seizing a cache of weapons and supplies after a brief clash with the armed group.
In a report, 2ID said they responded to tips from concerned citizens about armed individuals in Barangay Lisap. The raid follows a similar confrontation last month, on December 18, when soldiers from the 4th Infantry Battalion clashed with NPA members in the neighboring municipality of Roxas, which resulted in the death of a female rebel and the capture of war materials.
The government troop believes that the NPA militants are continuing to move across the region to evade both government forces and the vigilance of local communities.
Balaoro also condemned the NPA’s use of anti-personnel mines, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law and a threat to innocent civilians.
He assured the public that security operations would continue protecting local communities while encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities.
“The military’s efforts reflect a concerted push to dismantle NPA networks in Southern Tagalog and maintain peace in the region,” he said. (ALG/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
