Brigadier General Michael Samson, the newly appointed acting commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), immediately took charge by coordinating with line battalions to assess the security situation in Negros Occidental, Bohol, and Cebu, vowing to stop communist rebels from reclaiming lost ground.
Speaking at 7th founding anniversary of the 94th Infantry Battalion on February 20, Samson emphasized the need to stop communist rebels from reclaiming lost territories through their protracted warfare strategy.
Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong developed this strategy, which relies on mass mobilization and sustained resistance to gradually weaken and defeat a stronger enemy.
Samson told local reporters that the army closely monitors potential insurgent activities, especially in areas where rebels have allegedly lost ground.
He stressed the importance of maintaining real-time situational awareness by coordinating closely with battalion commanders across the division.
He also praised the 303rd Infantry Brigade, stationed in Murcia town, for dismantling all guerrilla fronts within its jurisdiction.
The 303rd Brigade commands the 79th Infantry Battalion in northern Negros, as well as the 62nd and 94th Infantry Battalions in central Negros.
Meanwhile, a recent incident in La Libertad, Negros Oriental, underscores ongoing security challenges. On February 8, armed men torched heavy equipment used for constructing a farm-to-market road in Sitio Manghuya, Barangay Aya.
The New People’s Army (NPA) claimed responsibility, arguing that the project would enable corporate activities harmful to local communities.
Samson said the army now targets the remaining insurgent elements, known as “remnants”—surviving members of dismantled rebel groups who continue to evade government forces.
He reaffirmed the army’s commitment to neutralizing these isolated groups to achieve the goal of declaring Central and Western Visayas insurgency-free.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.