NPAs losing influence in Oriental Mindoro - AFP

BULALACAO, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) is losing influence in this province due to combat operations and the government’s development projects, the military said.

Col. Carlos Quita, commander of the Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade, told The STAR the NPA’s strength has declined to just 77 fighters from about 90 last year.

“We still have combat operations. Many of the rebels have surrendered. We are also conducting CMO (civil-military operations). We believe this is an effective way to attract people’s support,” Quita said in Filipino.  

Quita said the NPA regards Mindoro as an important area since the former headquarters of its Southern Tagalog regional committee was located in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro.

He said insurgency in Mindoro peaked in early 2000 when the NPA had about 200 fighters.

Quita said the government’s development efforts are affecting the rebels’ influence in the province. 

“When we conduct offensives, they (NPA) can strike back. But they cannot counter our CMO. That is their problem,” Quito said.

He said the rebels have presence in 27 of about 200 barangays in Mindoro. An area is influenced by the NPA if the rebels have a mass base and when they exert political influence on its leaders.

Quita said they are working hard to make Mindoro insurgency-free in two years.

“We expect that by 2013, we will be able to declare the area insurgency-free. That means that insurgency would just be a police matter,” he said.

Quita said the insurgency problem in Mindoro cannot be resolved by military and police operations alone since the solution lies on the participation of all stakeholders.

He said the security forces must coordinate with the local governments, religious sector and the public to create an environment conducive for sustainable development.

“We have to tie up with the local governments, the PNP (Philippine National Police), private groups, and the residents to solve insurgency,” Quita said.

The 203rd IB has initiated development projects since last year, including the construction of 31 houses for Mangyans, eight foot bridges in Naujan and Mansalay towns, and six potable water systems in Mansalay and Bulalacao towns, and the rehabilitation of a seven-kilometer farm-to-market road in Mansalay.

Last Tuesday, the 203rd IB, other local military units and private groups turned over a two-classroom school building in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro to improve the Mangyans’ access to basic services.

The classroom will benefit about 370 students in remote Sitio Yunot in Barangay Nasucob.