CANINE HERO. Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, on Tuesday (April 19, 2022) confers the Military Merit Medal (plain) to Ella, a Belgian Malinois, and the dog's handler, who helped locate the body of a slain NPA following an encounter in Sibulan, Negros Oriental. One officer and nine enlisted personnel of the 11th Infantry Battalion were also given the Military Merit Medals with Bronze Spearhead Device. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow) DUMAGUETE CITY - The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) capability in Negros Island has diminished over the years compared to the previous elections, Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Army commander for Western and Central Visayas, said on Tuesday. Arevalo, who heads the 3rd Infantry Division based in Panay, said in an interview, that it is "very, very much better compared to the last elections because I was (assigned) here in 2019 and that was also election time"