The Visayas Command (Viscom) said on Sunday that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Central and Western Visayas has no clear direction after the death of its leader Rogelio Posadas.
Posadas was killed during an armed clash against 94th and 62nd Infantry Battalions in the boundaries of Isabela and Binalbagan in Negros Occidental last Thursday.
Viscom said that the death of Posadas left a void in the leadership of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Visayas leaving the group with no clear operation directions on the ground.
“With the death of Rogelio Posadas, the CPP-NPA-NDF in Western and Central Visayas are now leaderless, with no clear operational direction on the ground. This will further contribute to the leadership vacuum that their aching organization continues to suffer,” Viscom said in a statement.
Posadas was a known rebel leader in the Visayas region and orchestrated numerous illegal activities in the area. He is wanted for murder with a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 60 in Cadiz City.
Posadas was also the top leader of Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and secretary of the Unified Regional Committee for Negros Island, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.
“His death is a crushing defeat to the CPP-NPA-NDF, as this will clearly manifest the decimation of the terrorist group in the Visayas region and will send a strong message to their already demoralized ranks that they have no safe haven to hide, and that the government forces continue to gain grounds on them,” said Viscom.