KITCHARAO, Agusan del Norte- Troops of the 29th Infantry “Matatag Fighters “Batallion draws off the members of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) after a 15-minute clash on March 7, 2021, around 7:44 in the morning at the vicinity of Brgy. Linongganan, San Francisco, Surigao Del Norte.
The said troops were conducting a combat patrol in the area as a response to the information provided by the civilians regarding the presence of more or less 10 armed men who were believed to be members of Sangay Yunit Propaganda16-B (SYP16-B), Guerilla Front 16(GF16) of North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command (NEMRC).
The CNTs have withdrawn towards the east direction of the said barangay leaving one (1) anti-personnel mine, three (3) blasting caps, 12 Eveready battery (A), two (2) bottles of diesel, one (1) backpack, food supplies, medical paraphernalia and other subversive documents with high intelligence value. There were no casualty on the government side while undetermined on the enemy’s side, since bloodstains were also seen in their route of withdrawal.
According to Lt. Col Aristotle F Antonio, Commanding Officer of 29IB, “Our troops will sustain security operations against CNTs who are hiding in the hinterlands. They have nowhere to go. We will find them. Residents were already fed up with all their lies and deception. It would be better for them to stop and surrender now. The crooked ideology which they have been indoctrinated with is just a snare and chain that will drag them to infinite misery.”
“Likewise, I commend our troops for courageously facing the enemy without any doubt. You did not fail your people on the shared responsibility entrusted you to secure peace and freedom, specially against deceitful schemes by the CNTs,” Antonio added.
