Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City – The Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the Visayas region continues to crumble as the AFP under the Visayas Command (VISCOM) sustains its momentum.
“We have achieved significant gains in our efforts and will continue to push on. There will be no let-up in our Focused Military Operation and Community Support Program as we sustain the momentum and prevent the CTG from ever gaining their footing in the region,” said Lieutenant General Benedict M Arevalo PA, the Commander of VISCOM.
For January of the current year, a total of 18 Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) have already been neutralized by government forces, 14 of which were surrenderees. The AFP troops also seized 35 firearms during the period. In addition, 93 CTG-Affiliated Mass Organizations (CAMOs) members have denounced their support from the communist terrorists as they pledged their allegiance to the government.
In 2022, 127 community development projects under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) were completed comprising 71 infrastructure and 56 non-infrastructure projects. Currently, there are 244 projects that are being implemented in CTG-cleared communities.
“We will remain steadfast in our commitment to ending the local communist armed conflict in the region. Our efforts will not waver, and we will never back down. As such, we encourage the few remaining members of the communist terrorist to lay down their arms, abandon their armed struggle, and return to the folds of the law. Follow the lead of your former comrades. Be part of the genuine solution to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development in the region,” added LtGen Arevalo.
(Story and photo by VISCOM)
