NPA Terrorists Continue to Fall in Surigao del Sur

Lianga, Surigao Del Sur (SDS) – Another Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) dies and four high-powered firearms were seized during a 30-minute clash between 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion’s operating troops and the CNTs’ Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad (SRSDG) Southland, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) on April 14, 1:50 pm in Sitio Magkahunao, Barangay Buhisan, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.

The killed NPA is yet to be verified while seized illegal firearms and war materiel include two (2) M16A1 rifles, one (1) AK 47 rifle, one (1) M653 rifle, two (2) bandoleers bearing five (5) fully loaded M16 magazines and four (4) fully loaded AK47 magazines.

It can be recalled that last year, continuous debacles plagued CNTs in CARAGA region which included the death of Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cullamat’s daughter, Jevelyn Campos Cullamat, alias Ka Reb, whose death exposed her daughter’s involvement in the NPA terrorist movement.

Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Harvey L Gernale INF (GSC) PA, 3SFBn Commanding Officer, said that residents from sitios Gacub and Cagte of barangay Buhisan immediately reported the CNTs’ presence in the vicinity citing extortion activities such as forcefully asking for food stuffs from the poor residents. There were also similar reports from sitios of Gambuyon and Uranium of the same barangay.

“We immediately acted upon the reports of the residents to our Community Support Teams (CSTs) immersed in the area to support and protect the Surigao del Sur Provincial Task Force Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict’s (PTF-ELCAC’s) implementation of Barangay Development Plan projects in priority conflict-affected barangays as part of the ,” LtC Gernale said.

“While the troops were approaching the CNTs’ hideout referred to by the concerned civilians, they were fired upon by the CNTs, thereby prompting our soldiers to fight back resulting to the death of one of their members left by the group and the seizure of the war materiel,” LtC Gernale added.

Brigadier General Allan D. Hambala, 401st Infantry Brigade Commander lauds the whole Surigao del Sur province for staunchly supporting National Task Force ELCAC’s campaign.

“Surigao del Sur is no longer a safe haven for NPA terrorists. The CPP-NPA-NDF personalities and front groups are declared by the whole province, to include the barangays and tribal councils as persona non-grata. The CNTs’ continuous debacles are the manifestation of it,” BGen Hambala, said.

“The door is still open for remaining CNTs to peacefully surrender. Surrender now or suffer the same tragic fate,” Hambala, added.

Meanwhile, the CARAGA League of Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives, and Surigao del Sur tribal leaders and members vowed to help in tracking down the NPA terrorists within their ancestral lands to put a stop in their useless struggle which destroyed their tribal culture. The tribes also declared Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Cullamat persona non-grata for not taking action and for being mum against the CNTs’ killing of innocent IPs.

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