Tag: Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Brigade

Gov’t reintegration prompts more rebels to surrender: Army

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is expecting more members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Panay and Negros to surrender.

Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said this could happen as the government shows sincerity to help the former rebels by providing an initial reintegration assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

“These E-CLIP beneficiaries are living proofs of the government’s sincerity in helping those who courageously abandoned the senseless and bloody armed struggle,” Dolina said in a statement on Wednesday.

He added the growing number of former rebels receiving assistance will encourage other NPA members to return to the fold of the law.

On Monday, 11 former rebels in Negros Occidental under the custody of the 62nd Infantry Battalion and the 3rd Civil-Military Operations Battalion received reintegration assistance worth PHP21,000 each from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

In Cuartero, Capiz, a former rebel who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities on January 29 received a financial assistance of PHP10,000 from the municipal government.

The reintegration assistance is a component benefit of the E-CLIP for former rebels.

The receiving unit — military, police, or local government unit — from where a rebel surrendered receives PHP21,000 in reintegration assistance as a support to defray the subsistence or meals costs of the former rebel while in custody as well as for incidental expenses such as securing birth certificate, identification card, and mobility expenses.

Once enrolled in the E-CLIP, a former rebel will also receive immediate assistance of PHP15,000; livelihood assistance, PHP50,000; firearms remuneration, PHP12,000 to PHP500,000; half-way house assistance; PhilHealth enrollment and medical assistance; education assistance; housing assistance; legal assistance; and healing and reconciliation initiatives.

The United States and the European Union have already declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062569

Troops seize NPA weapons in central Negros clash site

BACOLOD CITY — Troopers of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) recovered weapons left behind by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels after an encounter in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Friday afternoon.

Items found included an M16 rifle, 11 firearm magazines, some ammunition, a rifle grenade, an anti-personnel mine, a hand-held radio, subversive documents, food items, and personal belongings, such as clothes, several pairs of boots and slippers.

Lt. Col. Patricio Tomales, commanding officer of 15th IB headquartered in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, said in a statement on Friday night their troops responded to reports from residents of Sitio Baliw in Barangay Bagtic that the rebels were extorting rice and money from them.


The firearms, ammunition and other weapons as well as personal items recovered by troopers of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion after their encounter with communist rebels in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Friday afternoon (Feb. 8, 2019).
Photo courtesy of 15th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army

At 1:30 p.m., soldiers of the Alpha Company engaged in a 30-minute firefight with the rebels, who fled after the encounter.

These troopers were among those who fought during the five-month Marawi siege before their deployment to Negros Island, Tomales said.

Mabinay town, situated at the boundary of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental, is included in the coverage area of the southern Negros based 15th IB.

Tomales thanked the residents for providing their troops timely information on the presence of the rebels in their community.

“This proves the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army terrorist is losing hold of their masses and the people are already fed up with their lies and terror,” he added.

Tomales said information on the sightings or extortion activities of the NPA rebels can be reported to the 15th IB’s hotline number (0945) 5045757.

Capt. Eduardo Precioso, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division, on Saturday echoed Tomales’ statement that the communist rebels have lost mass base support.

Precioso lauded the residents for their continued support to the anti-insurgency operations of government troops.

“Your bravery to stand with the government in implementing peace and order is of great help,” he added.

Both the United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061450

220 soldiers boost anti-insurgency campaign in Negros Island

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 220 troopers of the Philippine Army have been deployed to Negros Island to strengthen internal security operations.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental, said on Wednesday he welcomes the arrival of the additional troops that will boost their campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).


New soldiers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, prepare for deployment to their companies in Negros Island on Wednesday (Jan.30, 2019) to help strengthen internal security. 
Photo courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army

He said that with a stronger Army force in the island, the troops will run more aggressively after the communist terrorists and prevent them from conducting atrocities and extortion activities.

“Our number is enough to pursue the NPA. With the support of the communities, local government units, and government agencies, the number will continue to grow until these terrorists will have no more to run to,” Arevalo said.

On Wednesday, 120 soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion’s Bravo Company arrived in Negros Oriental, coming from their six-month deployment with the 301st Infantry Brigade in Panay Island.

A total of 100 new soldiers, who underwent training with the 3rd Infantry Division in Jamindan, Capiz, were also recently assigned to the different Army battalions in Negros Island.

According to the 303rd Brigade, the deployment of 220 more troops in Negros is based on Malacañang’s Memorandum Order No. 32 issued on November 22, 2018.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea released the directive amid “sporadic acts of violence allegedly committed by lawless groups particularly in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental and Occidental, and Bicol Region.” (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060608

Army condemns NPA murder of village watchman in southern Negros

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Army has condemned the killing of a village watchman by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday afternoon.

The 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) identified the victim as Cornilio Morales, a resident of Sitio Camandag, Barangay Carol-an, who was gunned down in front of his daughter and their neighbors.

Lt. Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB, in a statement on Wednesday assailed the rebel group’s criminal and barbaric act against an unarmed civilian.

“This is a clear violation of Article 4.4 Part IV of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL),” he said.

Article 4.4 states that “civilians together with their property shall be distinguished from combatants and, together with their property shall not be the object of attack”.

Maj. Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, on Thursday also condemned the CPP-NPA terrorists’ “inhumane act” in killing Morales.

“Once again, they proved that they are the true human rights violators in Negros. Killing the innocent and defenseless civilian in front of his child is a heartless act that only terrorists do,” he added.

Dolina assured the Negrenses they will not allow such terroristic act to happen again.

“We will not stop going against these communist terrorists until justice is served to the families of the victims,” he added.

According to the military report, six communist rebels seized Morales around 5 p.m. while he was in a waiting shed with his daughter and other residents. The rest were told to lie on the bellies.

One of the rebels, who looked like a minor, shouted, “Pasensya na, napag-utusan lang” (Sorry, just following orders), then shot Morales, the report added, citing accounts of civilian witnesses.

Dacoscos urged Negrenses to help stop the NPA atrocities and human rights violation by reporting information on their activities and whereabouts through hotline numbers (0975)133-6243 and (0977)601-5416.

Both the United States and the European Union declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army as a terrorist group. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060586

Army’s 3rd ID intensifies alert vs. terror attack

BACOLOD CITY — The 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army, which covers the 10 provinces in Western and Central Visayas, has doubled its efforts to thwart any terror attempt in the wake of the Jolo twin bombings.

Major Gen. Dinoh Dolina, commanding officer of the 3rd ID, said in a statement on Tuesday their unit is one with the Filipinos in condemning the “inhumane and barbaric” act that claimed the lives of civilians and soldiers.

“(We) will double (our) efforts to suppress any terror attempt that would jeopardize the peace and security situation in the region,” Dolina added.

The 3rd ID covers the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas and Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Cebu, and Bohol in Central Visayas.

He said that upon the directive of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Central Command (CentCom) commander, Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, the Army, Navy and Air Force are closely monitoring maritime waters of the Visayas and all points of entry and exit in the region.

Clement said in an earlier statement that the AFP in the Visayas “will continue its efforts to quell any attempt that would affect the normal situation in the whole region.”

Moreover, Dolina encouraged Muslim communities to cooperate and work together with government security forces for their safety against those who promote violent radicalism.

“I would like to reiterate the call of the CentCom commander to the people of Visayas to be vigilant and to continue cooperating with your Army to prevent any terrorist group from casting terror attacks in the region,” he said.

Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said Tuesday the bombing in Jolo, Sulu, which claimed the lives of 21 people and wounded 97 others, is an isolated incident.

He also said the military will take “extra precautionary measures” to secure the second Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite on February 6 following the bombing incident. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060421