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PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — The Army assures mountain resort operators in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental that they are safe amidst recent encounters with communist rebels in the area.
Lt. Col. Nolasco Coderos Jr., commander of the Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion, clarifies that the armed encounters in Sergio Osmeña and Piñan towns were a result of intensified military operations, not a harassment operation by the New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas.
Coderos explains that the rebels, who were escaping from their lairs in Misamis Occidental’s side of the Malindang mountain range, had accidentally entered Piñan and Osmeña towns.
This situation provided an opportunity for the soldiers to pursue the rebels, leading to a firefight as the rebels attempted to buy time for an escape.
Lt. Col. Jose Andre Monje, commander of the 10th Infantry Battalion in Misamis Occidental, reports that there are still 12 remaining rebels in the province, indicating a significant weakening of their forces.
In Zamboanga del Norte, Coderos states that only seven rebels are attempting to maintain holdouts.
The Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines is concentrated in the boundaries of the two provinces, according to Coderos.
The decrease in rebel presence has allowed for the development of eco-tourism destinations around Mt. Malindang.
Lawyer Orlando Salatandre, president of the Mt. Malindang Tourism Federation, expresses gratitude for the military’s efforts in ensuring the safety of the tourism destinations. He emphasizes that the continued operation of these destinations creates jobs and economic opportunities in the communities, contributing to poverty alleviation.
READ: NPA present in more than 200 barangays, says AFP
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
