Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte- The 30th Infantry (Fight On) Battalion, Philippine Army overran Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-Terrorists (CNTs) hideouts during separate armed encounters at So Maibay, Brgy Sapa, Claver and along the boundary area of Brgys Mabini and Tagbongabong both of Placer, Surigao del Norte on the 21st and 25th of April 2021 respectively.
Prior to the most recent incident, the unit received consistent reports from the local populace complaining the CNTs’ rampant extortion activities, abuses and threat and intimidations. With that information, government forces were immediately sent to conduct patrols that led to a government-initiated armed engagement with the more or less twenty (20) CNTs belonging to SYP-Platoon 16C2, GFC16, NEMRC under @JD (TN: Alberto Castaneda) of which troops overran and seized the enemy encampment and recovered on the site trigger mechanism of M16 Rifle, Detonating Cord for IEDs, Charging device for commercial two-way radio, five (5) kilos of rice, assorted medicines, cooking paraphernalia, several Poncho Tents and one (1) backpack containing subversive documents and personal belongings. Pursuing troops also discovered bloodstains scattered along the enemy’s route of withdrawal.
Last April 21, 2021, government forces also overran/seized CNT encampment belonging to SYP-Platoon 16C1, GFC16, NEMRC under @JACOB (TN: Roniel T Neniel) after a 15-minutes firefight at So. Maibay, Brgy Sapa, Claver, SDN which also resulted to the seizure of voluminous war materials from the terrorists including Bandoliers, Magazines of M16 Rifle, Magazines of AK-47 Rifle, seven (7) live ammunitions of M203 Grenade Launcher, several ammunitions of M16 and AK-47, one (1) piece Detonating device for Improvised Explosive Device (IED), assorted medical supplies, one (1) cellphone, (1) power bank and backpacks recovered by the troops.
In the statement of Lt Col Ryan Charles G Callanta, the Commanding Officer of 30IB, said that “I want to express my gratitude to the populace for cooperating with us by providing information, this is just a manifestation that communities are already fed up of the presence of these terrorists in their respective areas who deceived the populace and threatened them if they will not give in to their demands. This is a significant wake up call to these terrorists of their dwindling influence and clout particularly in the far-flung communities. These terrorists are now and always be on the run as we will continue to aggressively pursue them, we will not stop. And to our troops for their timely respond to the information and eagerness to protect our people even when their lives are at stake.
“In behalf of the entire 30IB “Fight On” Battalion, we assured the whole people within our area of operations, our continuous commitment of bringing genuine peace and security in this part of the country and work hand in hand with other agencies in ensuring unhampered realization of progress and development in the area. Rest assured also that we will continue to do our mandated tasks so that our people in Surigao del Norte will lived peacefully and out of fear, threats and intimidations from these communist terrorists.” Callanta added.
