Army realigns troops in Negros vs NPA

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/131973/Army-re...n-Negros-vs-NPA

11/07/2008 | 04:49 AM
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MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Army has realigned its troops in Negros to sustain its attacks against the communist New People's Army (NPA), an online news site reported.

Visayan Daily Star reported that Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado said he is no longer surprised by the increase in tempo of NPA atrocities in Negros.

He said that since NPAs are feeling the pressure from government forces in the hinterlands, they are now going after "soft targets."

Ibrado also said that while they cannot cover and secure all areas of the country, Army commanders have made adjustments by re-aligning their forces.

He added there had been minimal effect from their campaign against NPA rebels in Luzon and Visayas, because of the reduction of troops in those areas.

Those troops are now deployed in Mindanao, he said.

Military records showed NPAs had destroyed more than P30 million in property, especially in the northern part of the province, from January to October this year.

Ibrado said NPAs had resorted to guerrilla warfare, allowing them to choose when and where to strike.

But he dismissed as a "show of force" the series of rebel attacks against what he calls "soft targets."

He also said they are still on the right track in attaining their targets of reducing the NPA threats to peace and order, into just a police problem by 2010. - GMANews.TV