Response to the enemy's continued attacks in Central Luzon: Resolutely carry forward and master guerrilla warfare
The enemy is densely deployed, and actively pursues the revolutionary movement, in Central Luzon. The 7th ID of the Philippine Army (PA) is directly focused on the region. Under this division are two brigades of the PA: the 702nd Bde to which the 70th IB and 71st IB belong, and the 703rd Bde to which belong the 69th IB and 24th IB. The 68th IB based in Laur, Nueva Ecija, serves as the division's strike force.
The 702nd Bde's area of operation includes the Sierra Madre mountain range in Central Luzon. The 71st IB focuses on the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and eastern Pangasinan. The 70th IB on the other hand is focused on Aurora, the only province in Central Luzon where an entire battalion has been concentrated. The 703rd Bde on the other hand is assigned to provinces around the Tarlac - Zambales mountain range.
The current regime has added the 54th IB (which was pulled out from the north) to the forces deployed in the region. The 54th IB's area of responsibility includes the entire stretch of Dalton Pass from Nueva Ecija to Nueva Vizcaya.
The headquarters of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) which has operational control over the Scout Rangers and Special Forces of the PA, is based in San Miguel, Bulacan. The 34th SR, a Scout Ranger company based in Balanga, Bataan, focuses on the portion of Manila Bay that lies within Central Luzon. Air Force troops based in Floridablanca, Pampanga and the Special Action Force of the PNP in the region are also active in counterrevolutionary operations.
Detachments in the plains are positioned far from each other and are thinly spread while those in mountainous areas like Aurora are more densely posted.
Citizens' Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU) are continuously being formed in Central Luzon, to augment the reactionary military's troop strength. Aside from the funds allotted for it by the regime, politicians in the region also fund CAFGU units in order to utilize them as private armies.
The enemy is usually also accompanied by criminal and bandit grouplets in the region during pursuit operations against the NPA. These are the "Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan" (Revolutionary People's Army) or RHB, the Baguisa grouplet and the "Rebolusyonaryong Gerilya sa Arayat" (Revolutionary Guerrillas of Arayat) or RGA. These grouplets are actively employed in conducting surveillance operations against the revolutionary movement and mass base.
Army intelligence forces maintain a heavy presence both in mountaious areas and in the plains. The Military Intelligence Group operates independently in various areas in Central Luzon. The enemy's infantry forces depend on this intelligence agency. Aside from the MIG, enemy units also have their own intelligence networks. One example is the 3rd Intelligence Service Unit (ISU), which like the MIG operates independently, and the 65th Military Intelligence Company (MICO), which is under company formations of the PA. It actively recruits assets and organizes them into barrio intelligence networks or BIN in areas where modified special operations teams or MSOT are assigned.
Combat units pass the information they gather to the division'as intelligence units. Plans of attack are drafted based on such data. Operational plans of the division are swiftly implemented due to the presence of its strike force. While small combat operations are being launched by detachment units, the division is able to launch strike operations.
The Macapagal-Arroyo regime has opened Clark, Subic and other areas in Central Luzon to joint military exercises of American and Filipino troops. In support of the US attacks against Afghanistan, the regime has also opened Clark and Subic for refueling and as transit points of US war planes and ships.
Under the current regime, the list of violations of human rights perpetrated by the reactionary military in Central Luzon has grown. There are more and more cases of massacres and summary executions of NPA members and the masses. Abductions, illegal detention, harassment, intimidation, searches, the imposition of curfew and the abuse of women have become rampant.
It is but right for the people of Central Luzon to resolutely assail and resist the reactionary military's violations of their rights. In July, residents of Barangay Nabuklod, Floridablanca, Pampanga led by the Central Luzon Aeta Association, repeatedly picketed to demand the pullout of the abusive 24th IB from their area.
In the face of heavy enemy deployment and continued enemy attacks against the revolutionary movement in the region, the regional committee of Central Luzon has issued reminders to, and defined the tasks of, the NPA in order to correctly resist the enemy's assaults:
* It is our duty to master guerrilla warfare. Do not expose guerrilla units especially to bad elements. Familiarize yourself with those who live around the house you are based in. Avoid staying for long periods in constricted areas and avoid creating patterns of movement. Meticulously study the place you are based in, especially in expansion areas. Aside from having a good plan of action, come up with an appropriate defense plan based on the terrain, troop strength and firepower. During battle, analyze the situation sharply and always seize the initiative.
* Launch tactical offensives to annihilate the enemy bit by bit and to confiscate arms. Conduct good intelligence work.
* Form intelligence networks both in consolidated and expansion areas. It is necessary to know the enemy and its movements in depth. Simultaneous with the development of our intelligence network, the intelligence network of the enemy must be identified and demolished.
* Organize or further strengthen the main fighting units on the regional and provincial levels. There is a need to establish and constantly ensure that the command on the guerrilla front level operates daily. The key to mastery is constant training and improving on old skills and methods, especially in the face of changing circumstances.
Exemplary intelligence and tactics have been important factors in launching some of the region's tactical offensives.
The NPA in Nueva Ecija's Front 2 successfully raided a PNP detachment in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya in November 2000 even if the latter was outside its area of responsibility.
On June 5, an armed propaganda unit in northwestern Pampanga also successfully disarmed Filipino soldiers who were escorting American troops participating in joint exercises conducted by the AFP and US Armed Forces under the VFA.
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