Army confirms NPA recruitment in Samar amid truce

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 26 (PNA) -- Communist rebels have intensified their recruitment activities in remote villages of Samar provinces despite a ceasefire being observed by the government and insurgents, a top military official confirmed.

Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division Brig. Gen. Raul Farnacio said members of the New People's Army (NPA) have been visible in some remote communities in Samar Island to regain strength.

“There have been visitations and show of forces. They even drive former rebels away from communities,” Farnacio told reporters.

With the ongoing ceasefire, government troops cannot stop the reported recruitment activities. As counter-insurgency, the army has been assisting in the delivery of government services through the conduct of Bayanihan or the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP).

The ceasefire agreement calls for the cessation of hostilities between government troops and communist rebels as peace negotiations resumed.

“There are many disadvantages of ceasefire and we’re hoping that once specific provisions are laid down, rebels will comply,” Farnacio added.

Samar provinces have been a stronghold of armed rebels due to its terrain which consists of densely forested mountainous areas, high poverty incidence, and issue of widespread landlessness, according to a 2013 study of William Norman Holden of the University of Calgary in Canada.

Since the early stages of the rebellion, Samar Island has been considered to be a rebel stronghold, with 11 percent of all NPA-related incidents have taken place on the three provinces, the same study revealed.

The NPA launched its first tactical operation in the country in Calbiga, Samar in 1974, when it ambushed an army scout patrol and seized a number of their weapons. (PNA)

JMC/SQM