Bounty offer vs NPA rebels gets positive responses — Philippine Army

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The bounty offer for neutralization of New People’s Army rebels appears to be getting favorable responses from Negrenses, according to an official of the Philippine Army.

Captain Ruel Llanes, officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations, said the command had received numerous reports from the people in connection with sightings of armed communist rebels in Negros Island.

Llanes said the recent encounter that took place at Barangay Gatuslao in Candoni town of Negros Occidental, was the result of the many reports the military had received. It was the SAF commandos who managed to catch up with the rebels on Saturday last week, he added.

Concerned Negrenses are giving P100,000 for every neutralized NPA “combatant,” dead or alive,” earlier said Major General Jon Aying, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The NPA in Negros slammed the “bounty hunting” and the Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the island, claiming that it will further worsen human rights violations.

Llanes said the bounty offer and that of President Rodrigo Duterte was a big help to the military, in terms of information gathering. “Some of those who were texting us, inquiring about the process on how to surrender,” he said.

“Maybe, they want to facilitate the surrender of their friends or relatives in the rebel movement. We are now working it out,” Llanes added.

The Leonardo Panaligan Command of the NPA rejected the offer of jobs and housing by President Rodrigo Duterte, if they surrender. Ka JB Regalado, LPC spokesperson, in a statement he issued, dismissed the offer of Duterte as plain and simple deception, insisting that the NPA will not surrender. (FREEMAN)