PORMAL na idineklara ng Armed Forces of the Philippine – Northern Luzon Command at PNP’s Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Northern Luzon, ang pagkawasak ng dalawang CPP-NPA terrorist fronts.

Lumagda ang military at police top brass sa Northern Luzon sa dokumentong nagdedeklara sa ‘dismantling’ ng dalawang NPA units na dating kumikilos sa hilagang bahagi ng Pilipinas.

Hudyat ito ng paglupig sa Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Southern Ilocos Sur o KLS SIS, na kumikilos sa hangganan ng Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province at Abra ganoon din sa KLG Quirino-Nueva Vizcaya na nag-o-operate sa mga hangganang ng dalawang lalawigan.

Ayon kay Police Major General Ferdinand Daway, hepe ng PNP’s DIPO Northern Luzon, “the parameters of dismantling NPA fronts are stipulated in the AFP and PNP’s Joint Letter Directive Number 3 series of 2020 which include clearing of all affected barangays, neutralization of the terrorist group’s politico-military structure and reduction of enemy strength to a squad level, among others”.

Pahayag naman ni AFP-NOLCOM commander, Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, bago ang nasabing deklarasyon ay sunod-sunod na AFP and PNP counter-insurgency operations ang kanilang inilunsad na nagresulta sa pagkawasak ng CPP-NPA sa rehiyon.

Pinakahuli rito ang ‘neutralization’ ng isang Regional White Area secretary at dalawang NPA finance officers sa loob lamang ng limang araw.

Pahayag pa ni Lt. Gen. Burgos “these are on top of the 313 former rebels who surrendered 96 firearms this year after deciding to turn their backs from armed conflict, return to mainstream society and avail benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP”.

Una rito, sa utos ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na tuluyan nang wasakin ang CPP-NPA at maging ang mga kasapi ng criminal at private armed groups, ay nagkaisa ang AFP at PNP sa Northern Luzon na magbalangkas at ilatag ang Joint Campaign Plan “Natalna II” na kanila ring nilagdaan noong Martes sa Camp Servillano Aquino sa Tarlac.

“Natalna II is designed to ensure synergy of military and police efforts in addressing NPA terrorists, criminal elements and private armed groups through close cooperation and inter-operability schemes,” paliwanag ni Burgos.

Dahil sa suporta ng mga halal na pinuno ng bayan at ng sambayanang Filipino ay nagawa nilang durugin ang dalawang guerilla fronts matapos silang mapagod sa pang-aabuso at panggugulo ng NPA, ayon pa kay Burgos.

“This unprecedented accomplishment in the north will serve as our inspiration to further press the fight, exploit our gains and finally win the much-coveted peace, prosperity and development which every Filipino truly deserves,” dagdag pa ni Gen. Burgos. (JESSE KABEL)