CEASEFIRE | NPA continues to recruit members amid talks
TACLOBAN CITY – Despite the on-going peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) the latter strengthened their recruitment activities in far flung areas in Samar provinces, this was confirmed by a top military official.
According to Brig. Gen. Raul Farnacio, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, members of the NPA have been visible in some remote communities in Samar Island to regain strength.
“There has been visitations and show of forces. They even drive former rebels away from communities,” Farnacio told reporters.
With the ongoing ceasefire, government troops cannot stop the reported recruitment activities. As counter-insurgency, the army has been assisting in the delivery of government services through the conduct of Bayanihan or the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP).
The ceasefire agreement calls for the cessation of hostilities between government troops and communist rebels as peace negotiations resumed.
“There are many disadvantages of ceasefire and we’re hoping that once specific provisions are laid down, rebels will comply,” Farnacio added.
Samar provinces have been a stronghold of armed rebels due to its terrain which consists of densely forested mountainous areas, high poverty incidence, and issue of widespread landlessness, according to a 2013 study of William Norman Holden of the University of Calgary in Canada.
Since the early stages of the rebellion, Samar Island has been considered to be a rebel stronghold, with 11 percent of all NPA-related incidents have taken place in the three provinces, the same study revealed.
The NPA launched its first tactical operation in the country in Calbiga, Samar in 1974, when it ambushed an army scout patrol and seized a number of their weapons.
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