From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 5): Number of NPA rebels in northern Negros Occidental dwindling - Army
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=541398
The operations of the New People’s Army (NPA) in northern Negros Occidental, particularly in the area of Escalante City
Col. Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said that from three platoons of armed fighters in the past years, only one remains in the area.
This is a result of one and half years of sustained military operations in cooperation with the Philippine National Police, Aying said.
Aying said the remaining platoon-sized unit of the NPA in the north has split into four small groups to avoid detection.
The Provincial Peace and Integration Development Unit (Pro-PIDU), in cooperation with the Philippine Army and PNP, among other groups, is currently conducting a 15-day civil-humanitarian activities in six far-flung villages of Escalante, Toboso and Calatrava.
Lt. Col. Efren Morados, commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion based in Escalante, said they have observed that the NPA has been avoiding confrontation with patrolling soldiers.
The last encounter in the area was recorded last January.
The NPA Jean Pelle Command, however, denied in an earlier press statement the military’s pronouncement that their forces are weakening.
Eighty-nine NPA rebels have surrendered to the military in Negros Occidental since 2011.
Some of those who turned over their firearms and availed of the Armed Forces’ Guns for Peace program and received livelihood and financial assistance from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Five rebel returnees in Negros Occidental received P320,000 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Rebel returnees Erving Biñas, Felizardo Pineda Jr., Eugence Almojero and Evonie Baynosa were granted P210,000 last June 12.
Baynosa is a former vice-commanding officer of the Northern Negros Front Sentro De Grabidad Platoon.
The first recipient in Negros Occidental was Elizalde Martisano, a former squad leader and political officer of the Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of the NPA South West Front.
He was awarded P110,000 in cash last May after turning over an M-16 rifle and three Mossberg 12 gauge shotguns with 23 rounds of ammunition.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=541398