AN ARMY officer said that the forces of the New People's Army (NPA) in Mt. Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley has weakened after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strengthened its security efforts to counter insurgency threats.
"Actually, within the Diwalwal Mineral Reservation Area (DMRA) sa strategic location din ng patrol bases and military forces, Philippine National Police (PNP) forces and Diwalwal po is secured kasi nandoon po tayo sa mga chokepoints nila. So far weak na (ang strength ng NPA)," said Second Lieutenant Waren Lamberto, Bravo company commander of the 25th infantry Battalion.
He said the troops recently overran an NPA training camp last Saturday, July 1, that resulted to a firefight after residents reported to their office several extortion activities and harassment being conducted by communist group.
"We were able to capture their training camp. Nasupress natin sila na lalayo inside the DMRA," he said.
During the encounter, one soldier was killed while 11 soldiers were wounded after an improvised explosive device, laid by the communist groups, exploded.
He added that the soldiers encountered around 100 NPA rebels belonging to Guerilla front 25 and 20, who are operating within the DMRA but he said that they were able to send them away from the mining area.
1001st Infantry Brigade Deputy Commander Gilbert Saret, for his part, said that they continue their focused military operations to protect the communities and Mt. Diwalwal against insurgency threats.
"Nagka-conduct kami ng security patrol and security operations throughout Mt. Diwalwal to make sure na hindi magkakaroon ng access ang possible threat groups doon sa specific area ng Mt. Diwalwal," he said.
They are also conducting Community Support Program to reach out to communities in the upland to get their concerns and address it in collaboration with various agencies as well as with the local government units.