Nolcom: Four more NPA fronts dismantled by yearend

Military forces in Central and Northern Luzon are expecting to dismantle four more New People’s Army (NPA) fronts before the year ends, a spokesman said.

Lt. Col. James Joven, spokesman of the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), said in a statement that they are confident of dismantling the Northern, Southern, Nueva Ecija and Eastern Bulacan fronts of the NPA’s Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG).

Joven said the KLG Villar and KLG Southeast Pampanga were dismantled early this year.

Quoting Nolcom chief Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, Joven said the four targeted NPA fronts have started to lose the will to fight, and that the military would take advantage of the situation.

He added that the four NPA fronts have lost the support of civilians, forcing a number of their members to give themselves up to authorities.

“With less than a month left before the year ends, Nolcom troops are giving the CPP-NPA no chance to recover their losses as the military continues to score decisive blows against the enemy, particularly in the priority guerrilla fronts,” Joven said.

According to Nolcom figures, a total of 57 tactical engagements and 306 non-tactical operations against the insurgents have been conducted since Jan. 1.

But Joven said they are giving priority to negotiations for the surrender of the CPP-NPA’s regular members and supporters. – With Ric Sapnu