Army generals debunk Bato’s claim of NPA surge
TACLOBAN CITY – Two Army officials in the Visayas have debunked the claim of Sen. Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa that recruitment activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) are once again active under the Marcos administration.
Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, and Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz, dismissed the senator’s assertion, saying the communist insurgency in the country has actually weakened.
“They (communist rebels) are still there, but they are not gaining strength. It (recruitment) is not happening here (Eastern Visayas) or even throughout the country,” Ligayo said Tuesday.
“It’s just a matter of time for us to end this communist armed conflict. If this were a basketball game, we’re not just in the fourth quarter, we’re in the last two minutes,” he added.
De la Rosa claimed that the NPA’s recruitment was gaining momentum under the Marcos administration, an accusation he made during an Aug. 6 Senate inquiry into the reported recruitment of students in schools to join the communist group.
Upper hand
Ligayo said the government’s relentless campaign to eliminate the insurgency problem in the region under the administration of President Marcos led to the surrender of 162 members of the NPA and the deaths of 94 others, 14 of whom were considered key leaders in the region, since Jan. 1.
At least 148 firearms were also recovered from the rebels while 284 NPA camps had been dismantled.
Ligayo attributed the weakening of the insurgency problem to the rebels’ decision to surrender as well as the strong support from local governments and various agencies.
Sison, for his part, said that intelligence reports have consistently indicated a decline in student involvement in armed movements.
“There is really that hardship on the part of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army on recruitment, especially of our students and youth. As of now, we have not monitored any recruitment, which is why the NPA has no additional manpower,” he said in a separate interview Tuesday.
Sison highlighted the efforts of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict over the past two years, especially in actively engaging with schools and universities, especially those identified as potential recruitment hubs.
No young recruits
Their outreach efforts focused on institutions such as the West Visayas State University (WVSU), Aklan State University, and other academic centers in Iloilo and Capiz.
Sison also addressed specific concerns regarding the WVSU-Calinog Campus and Puti-an National High School in Cuartero, Capiz—both previously cited by the Philippine National Police as possible recruitment sites.
“As far as the Philippine Army is concerned, we did not see any recruitment in the mentioned schools,” he said.
Beyond student recruitment, Sison said the CPP-NPA might be shifting their focus towards indigenous communities.
However, he expressed confidence that the rebel groups’ efforts would be thwarted, emphasizing the continued presence of government forces in these areas.
“We co-locate with the enemy, but we will not co-exist. It is only the Philippine Army that will exist,” he said.
