Priest-turned-rebel Frank Fernandez yesterday dismissed as mere “psywar” claims of the military and police that they are gaining ground in reducing the New People’s Army in Negros into an insignificant level before President Arroyo steps down in June this year.

Fernandez, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front-Negros, said that in a statement,  the extended timetable set by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command from 2008 t0 2010, for the 3rd Infantry Division to crush the revolutionary movement, indicated their failure to do so, with more than 9,000 troops, including the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, being utilized in the counter-insurgency campaign against them.

So many troops deployed in Negros island it gives the revolutionary forces a breathing space in Panay, Central and Eastern Visayas to expand  and consolidate their forces in more areas, he added.

What success may be credited to the AFP and Philippine National Police in Negros are their rising records of human rights violations, victimizing what Fernandez claims innocent leaders of activist groups, ordinary farmers, laborers among others.

Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto, 3rd Infantry Division commander, has ordered Army field commanders to dominate the battle by dictating operational tempo in the fight against communist rebels, to preserve the gains they have already achieved.

Before leaving the 11th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, its former commander, said the Kilusang Larangan-Central Negros is already a dying organization, citing numerous setbacks they had inflicted on the rebel movement, in the last quarter of 2009.

This was also brought about by the arrest, surrender and deaths of KLCN members, as well as leadership problems, he said.

However, Fernandez claimed that despite the intensified campaign of the combined AFP and PNP forces, the year 2009 was a productive year for them, citing modest gains they have accomplished to advance the armed struggle to a higher level.

Because they are focusing more on the consolidation of the revolutionary forces, they had less tactical offensives last year, compared to 2008, he added.

Gacal said the sagging morale in the rank-and-file of KLCN, as confirmed by its former leaders, including Emma Calderon and sister Joan, and the capture of Party secretary Nilda Natan Bertulano, and the deaths of others, have forced majority of their members to lie low, while others surrendered to avail of the Social Integration Program for rebel returnees.

KLCN was reported by the military to be securing a rebel unit protecting the leadership of the Komiteng Rehiyonal-Negros chaired  by Fernandez.*GPB

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