THE Army’s 4th Infantry Division is eyeing to dismantle guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region before year’s end, a military official said Tuesday.

 “The (4ID) soldiers will not wait for December to end the insurgency in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region,” said 4ID public affairs chief Captain Al Anthony Pueblas.

Pueblas said 4ID commander Major General Andres Centino when he assumed office in May, was upbeat and vowed that the days for the NPA fronts are numbered.

 "This is part of his (Maj. Gen. Centino's) bid to free northern Mindanao and Caraga from the communist insurgency," said Pueblas.

 Pueblas said with local officials and communities linking arms to put down the armed rebellion, the soldiers are also upbeat on ending the decades-long insurgency problem in this part of the country before December 31, 2020.

 “We have indicators, the series of surrenderees and the major accomplishments on combat operations and the full support of the local chief executives,” said Pueblas.

 He added that about 86 New People's Army (NPA) leaders and fighters have already surrendered to the army units, not including to 29 other NPA rebels who surrendered to the police from January to early June this year.

 Pueblas said an estimated 500 NPA rebels, not regular fighters but mostly supporters were recorded operating in 4ID’s area of responsibilities.

 “Since January until June, over hundreds of NPA rebels and their leaders from various parts of the Caraga region and northern Mindanao have been surrendered,” said Pueblas.

 The most notable was the surrender on June 17 in Agusan del Norte town where 21 NPA rebels and die-hard supporters abandoned the communist terrorist group.

 Pueblas said officials from 59 towns of 1,100 villages, 1 province, 3 cities, and 22 sectoral groups also signed a document declaring the NPA persona non grata since last year.

 The support in communities has strengthened the village intelligence network that contributed to the success of military operations like the discovery of NPA lair and neutralization of notorious NPA leaders, according to Pueblas.

 “Another boost to the 4ID’s campaign is the manifesto of support of some mayors to the passage of the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020,” he said.

 The people want economic development and they see the government’s anti-insurgency drive as a key to achieve that, said Pueblas.

 “They are already tired of NPA atrocities,” said Pueblas.

 Like other 4ID’s officials, those NPAs who are still in the armed struggle, Pueblas urged them to give peace a chance and lay down their arms and return to the comfort of their families and friends.

 “Wala silang stronghold, as we engaged them decisively at dahil yan sa cooperation ng masa at sibilyan na boluntaryong nagrereport sa atin sa whereabouts ng mga rebelde,” said Pueblas.

 He said all towns and several villages in the region formed their local task force communist armed conflict to oversee the provision of an efficient mechanism in addressing the root causes of insurgencies and other armed conflicts through the delivery of basic services and packages by the government.

 Pueblas said the formation of the task force operationalizes Executive Order 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 4, 2018.

 “The directive also institutionalized a “whole-of-nation approach” in attaining an inclusive and sustainable peace,” said Pueblas.

 Patterned after the national and regional task forces, the local body is composed of heads of local offices of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Justice, Defense, Public Works and Highway, Budget, Finance, Agrarian Reform, Social Welfare and Education as well as the military, police, local communication office, and private sector representatives.

 At the village level, the task force is composed of members of the barangay peace and order council and community-based organizations. (Ben Balce)