DAVAO ORIENTAL — The Area Clearing Evaluation Board consisting jointly of the 10th Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office XI has officially declared the dismantling of the Weakened Guerrilla Front South and the Sub-Regional Committee 1 of the New People’s Army which have operated in some areas of the province of Davao Oriental.
During the Area Clearing Evaluation Board (ACEB) meeting held on Friday, January 29, 2021, via a zoom teleconference attended by Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, the evaluation board agreed through ACEB Resolution no. 05-2021 that the parameters for such declaration have been satisfied.
“The decisive engagement against the WGF South and SRC 1 had caused severe damage losses and greatly demoralized their ranks. Some members resorted to surrender while the remaining members were forced to merge with WGF 18. Subsequently, the WGF 18 and remnants of WGF South, SRC 1 are often sighted along the boundaries in Pantukan, Davao de Oro and Banaybanay, Davao Oriental,” the resolution reads.
Col. Oliver Maquiling, Deputy Commander of the 701st Brigade, Philippine Army, presented the conditions that led to the dwindling number of enemy forces.
Based on the report, the WFG South and SRC 1 experienced heavy losses due to the massive Focused Military Operations and Community Support Program that resulted in the reduction of their manpower, equipment, and mass bases through the support of their former Underground Mass Organizations that are now turned into People’s Organization of the government.
Col. Maquiling also highlighted the peace and order interventions that led to the dismantling of these NPA strongholds. In the area of the 66th Infantry Battalion, there are a total of 12 People’s Organizations that were formed by the army, with some of them former UGMOs. He added that activities to sustain these people’s organizations are continuously being implemented.
Moreover, the surrender of some NPA personalities and the deployment of CSP teams in the focus areas denied infiltration of the armed group and unable to pursue their plan for recovery.
Guerrilla Front South has operated in the municipalities of Caraga, Manay, and Tarragona and some areas of the neighboring province of Davao de Oro.
Governor Nelson Dayanghirang congratulated the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police as he welcomed the declaration of the dismantled WGF South and SRC 1.
“I hope that this success will be sustained. I really hope that we will be able to end the Communist insurgency in the soonest time possible. Our people deserve so much better,” said Governor Dayanghirang.
The parameters that needed to be satisfied in order to declare the dismantling of a guerrilla front include the validation of all guerrilla zones and focus areas within the guerrilla front by the ACVC; dismantling of political and military structures through the accounting of leadership of the Guerrilla Front Committee and those of the Party organs under it; disruption or stoppage of CTG fund-generation activities and the flow of logistical support and other resources from the town centers to the guerrilla front; cut-off of support to White Areas; and the establishment and full operation of the POPS Plan and other similar mechanisms in the dismantled guerrilla front. PIO
