CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division hit an armed group of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) anew as its troops seized three (3) high powered firearms and killed one (1) CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNT) in a clash on Saturday, around 5:10PM in the afternoon, at vicinity Talupa, So. Dumagook, Brgy. Lawaan, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.
Elements of the 42nd Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) under the operational control of 58th Infantry (Dimalulupig) Battalion of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division clashed against more or less ten (10) CNTs believed to be armed elements of Sub Regional Sentro De Gravidad (SRSDG) MTJ Eagles of the North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC).
Report from 58IB stated that troops while tracking enemy traces from previously reported hideout figured in a 25 minute firefight that resulted in the seizure of two (2) M16 Rifles and one (1) M14 Rifle. No casualty was reported on the government side.
Around 5:30AM today, same troops while scouring at the encounter site discovered one (1) dead CNT left behind by the withdrawing enemy. Troops still conducting pursuit operations against fleeing CNTs.
Maj. Gen. Romeo S Brawner Jr, the Commander of 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division congratulated the 42nd Division Reconnaissance Company and the 58IB Dimalulupig Troopers which are under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry Brigade for the continuous exemplary accomplishments in the past weeks and the successful encounter yesterday that significantly reduced the CTG’s strength and influence in the AOR.
“The recent surrender that yielded 10 firearms and yesterday’s successful encounter, among others, manifest the tactical proficiency of our troops. These accomplishments are results of careful planning and strategy borne out from good intelligence, and the flawless execution of competent and capable leaders and soldiers. Congratulations to 42nd DRC and the 58th IB!” Maj. Gen. Brawner said.
It can be recalled that in a press conference last August 25, 2021, 4ID presented the CTG leader and his members who surrendered along with their firearms and subsequently revealed the location of an arms cache with 8 High-powered firearms. Alias Talin and Alias Singko of SRSDG, MTJ, Sub Regional Committee (SRC) 1 and Vice Squad Leader of Squad 1, Platoon Sony (RYAN), Motorola, SRC 1, both of NCRMC surrendered to 58IB last August 16, 2021 bringing with them one (1) CZ AK47 rifle and one (1) M653 rifle with the hopes of starting new lives and return to their families to live with them peacefully. They led the troops to location of an arms cache and capture seven (7) AK47 rifles and one (1) M16 Rifle.
Since the assumption of MGen Branwer Jr as 4ID Commander last July 5, 2021, there were already thirty (30) encounters against the CTG in the AOR resulting in the capture of thirty (30) firearms with four (4) CNTs killed and eleven (11) others who were either captured or apprehended. Thirty-five (35) CTG members also surrendered bringing with them twenty-one (21) firearms while thirteen (13) enemy hideouts and four (4) IEDs were also seized.
On the other hand, another encounter also transpired yesterday, around 4:55 in the afternoon, between the troops 402nd Brigade against CNTs believed to be members of Sentro De Gravidad (SDG) CAOCAO of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee led by Edidie Mangubat @WEDS, Vice CO, SDG CAOCAO at Km 14, Brgy Ibuan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte resulting in the seizure of one (1) sack or rice, assorted food supplies and personal belongings.
Said clashes is another setback for the CNTs after it suffered reduction of strength and firearms thru surrender and losing of mass base support after civilians tipped off their locations resulting to government initiated encounters and seizure of hideouts.
Last August 22, 2021, troops of 29th Infantry Battalion under the operational control of 901st Infantry Brigade captured one (1) AK47 Rifle after a five (5) minute firefight ensued against CNTs believed to be members of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) 16A, Guerilla Front (GF) 16, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) at So. Taiwan, Brgy. Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.
While troops of the 8th Infantry “Dependable” Battalion under 403rd Infantry Brigade successfully prevented the planned atrocities of the CNTs after series of encounters resulting in the seizure of assorted food and medical supplies, radios, charger, sim cards, external drive, cellphone battery, and a backpack with personal belongings last August 18, 2021.
Since January of this year, a total of 131 encounters have already transpired between the 4ID troops and the CTG that resulted in the neutralization of 342 CTG members wherein 35 CNTs were killed, 63 captured or apprehended while a total of 168 CNTs and 76 Milisya ng Bayan have surrendered and 1,123 members of Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) have withdrawn support to the CTG and have renewed their allegiance to the government.
Additionally, 4ID have already gained a total of 292 Firearms composed of 193 high powered firearms (HPFA) and 99 low powered firearms (LPFA) thru encounters, surrenders or confiscations. 20 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also captured and 125 CTG hideouts were overran and seized.
Maj. Gen. Brawner Jr have vowed to pursue and destroy the CTG armed groups while also giving them opportunities to return peacefully and live a normal life with their families. He reiterated that those who will not lay down their arms will be given a good fight and shall be hunted down relentlessly.
“We will continue to push for the total defeat of the CTG. We have been successful in our operations and we will continue until they are defeated. With our relentless focused military operations, continuing surrender of CTG members, and the delivery of government interventions by our partner agencies thru the convergence of RTF ELCACs, we expect a drastic reduction of their membership and we hope to end this conflict during the President’s term”, MGen Brawner stressed.
