DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct. 4 (PIA) -- A top official from the Philippine Army said the government is winning 85% of the fight againstthe  Communist- Terrorist-Groups (CTGs) in the province. 

However, BGen. Leonardo Peña, commanding officer of the 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Philippine Army (PA) based in Negros Oriental, stressed that the public’s cooperation is also important to completely eliminate the terrorist threat. 

“Kung kukunin ko ang percentage ng ‘winning’ tayo I could say 85%. Fifteen percent na lang po ang kailangan natin tapusin but it cannot be done alone by your armed forces, by your Philippine National Police (PNP). It should be a collaboration of our ‘whole of government’ and ‘whole of nation’ approach,” said Peña during a recent Kapihan sa PIA forum here. 

He said the government’s security forces was able to dismantle the Southeastern Front of the alleged rebel CTG group New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the central part of the province and was also able to weaken the Sentral Negros II front of the said group.

Peña disclosed that the number of CTG forces in the province has dropped to 126 personnel. 

“We should not be complacent. Even if the Southeastern Front was already dismantled, just last 20th of September you may have heard that we had an encounter in Siaton where we were able to capture the non-listed personnel who had been listed as deputy secretary of SEF. Meaning they are trying to recover the dismantled front... mas maganda kung marami tayong mata na magtuturo kung nasaan sila para mabilis ang pagsukol natin sa kanila (It would be best if the people will help us and inform us about their whereabouts, then locating them would be easier),” Peña said.

The brigade commander emphasized that is important that the government and the people work together to reduce the chances of alleged CTGs taking advantage of the community.  

 “Sa armed struggle, iyan po ang stratehiya na ginagamit nila (para) mapilit ang mga tao especially the businessmen (or) those striving to improve their life na makakuha sila ng extortion money. Kung hindi nila tatakutin by means of using their illegal firearms hindi naman magbibigay ang molupyo (They use armed struggle to get extortion money from businessmen or those striving to improve their lives. They will not give in to them unless they threaten them with their illegal firearms),” Peña said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)