ARMED Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon
Jr. yesterday said government forces are on track in dismantling
17 of the 87 New People's Army guerilla fronts from January
through end-March.
"We think they will be reduced by about 15 to
17 guerilla fronts by first quarter as targeted," Esperon said
in a phone interview.
Esperon said the target was set in January
even before President Arroyo extended his term by three months
past his retirement day last Feb. 9 to sustain the fight against
the insurgents. "It appears that that we can really achieve that
(goal), we are on track," said Esperon. He said military leaders
could convene in mid-April to evaluate if they succeeded.
Esperon pointed to the arrest last Tuesday of
Vicente Libona, alias Ka Reden, secretary of the front committee
4-B operating in Northern Mindanao as one reason for his
optimism. Libona has pending arrest warrants for murder, robbery
with homicide and frustrated murder. "In fact, we got the
secretary of the Front C Committee 4-B that covers Misamis and
Bukidnon. We just got him and there are others," he said.
In Sorsogon City early on Sunday, troops from
the 9th Infantry Battalion, tipped off about the presence of
NPAs in the village of Abuyog, caught up with at least five of
the fully armed rebels and killed one of them in a brief
firefight.
Quoting 9th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen.
Jeffrey Sodusta, Southern Luzon Command spokesman Maj. Randolph
Cabangbang said the feat was the result of information provided
by "disgruntled" civilians who have been affected by rebel
atrocities.
After the five-minute clash, the troops
recovered the body of the still unidentified rebel at the scene
of the encounter, including four firearms, ammunition and
personal belongings.
No casualty was reported on the side of the
Army soldiers who continued pursuit operations.
The AFP and the Philippine National Police under orders by
President Arroyo are pursuing a 2010 timetable for the crippling
of the local communists. As of December 2007, the AFP said the
NPAs number less than 6,000 fighters. - Victor Reyes
