Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte – A high ranking personality of the New People’s Army (NPA) Communists Terrorist Group (CTG) was killed during an encounter between his group and the government forces of 30th Infantry (Fight On) Battalion, Philippine Army at the hinterlands of Sitio Pingaping, Brgy Motorpol, Tubod, Surigao del Norte on May 12, 2021.
The fatality was positively identified by Former Rebels (FR) whom were his former comrades as Christopher Jhon Trugello @KROKIS/AJIT, Political Instructor (PI) of Sandatahang Yunit Pangpropaganda (SYP) Platoon 16C2, Guerilla Front (GF) 16, NorthEastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under Albert Castañeda aka JD. Said fatality is a resident of Purok Rosal, Brgy Quezon, Surigao City.
Prior to the incident, this unit is receiving persistent reports from the local populace on the presence of Communist Terrorists in the area. Said reports prompted the Battalion to conduct combat patrols to verify the said reports. Upon reaching the general vicinity, the patrolling troops chanced upon the group of CNTs who have occupied a heavily fortified temporary encampment with fungi sticks and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) emplaced along the immediate periphery of the temporary encampment. Fierce firefight ensued immediately thereafter as the CNTs numbering to more or less fifteen (15) fully armed members occupied their heavily fortified positions. Exchanges of gun fires lasted for about twenty-five (25) minutes before the government forces eventually overran the encampment without incurring any casualties or injuries while the enemy scampered towards different directions bringing along with them several of their wounded comrades.
While scouring the encounter site, troops discovered a dead body which was later identified as Christopher Jhon Trugello or @KROKIS/AJIT. Discovered along with his body was a 9mm caliber pistol with magazine inserted containing live ammos. Several war materials, live ammunitions of different calibers, personal belongings, foodstuffs, five (5) pieces of jungle packs, twelve (12) pcs of makeshift tents, subversive documents and an armed IEDs intentionally laid along a trail were also discovered in the encounter site.
The CNT’s cadaver was properly turned over to the local government unit of Tubod and Philippine National Police (PNP) and was brought to a funeral service for its proper burial preparations and embalming. On the following day at two o’clock in the morning, one of @KROKIS/AJIT’s sister, Ms Girlie Trugello Lipang, who was in possession of his birth certificate claimed his body at Arpelida Funeral Homes, Taganaan, SDN which was formally turned over by Mr Alno Tubo, MDRRMO of Tubod, Maj Jasper Gacayan, EXO, 30IB and PNP personnel of Taganaan MPS.
It can be recalled that last April 24, 2021, a government-initiated engagement against the same group of CNTs transpired at the boundary area between Barangays Mabini and Tagbongabong both of Placer, SDN. Government forces likewise overran CNTs’ encampment while significant number of war materials and personal belongings were also recovered from the site.
