MARAMAG, BUKIDNON – Combined elements of 88th Infantry (MARINGAL) Battalion and 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion recovered six (6) High Powered Firearms (HPFAs) and captured four (4) Communist NPA Terrorist of Platoon Bagsik, Guerrilla Front Malayag of the Sub Regional Command 2 (SRC2) of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) under Dante Cuyos @DR in a thirty – minute gunfight that transpired at forested area of Purok 10, Sitio Narulang, Barangay Laligan, Valencia City, Bukidnon around 7 O’clock in the morning, September 10, 2021.
LTC CHRISTIAN JAMES P VINGNO, Commanding Officer of 88IB, lauded the act of the people who provided timely and accurate information of enemy presence to the government forces. “Nagasalamat ko sa kooperasyon sa katawhang masa pinaagi sa paghatag sa report sa presensya sa armadong NPA nga miresulta sa malampusong operasyon”. This is also a clear manifestation that the NPAs are not welcome in this already peaceful and insurgent-free community.
Initial investigation conducted by the intelligence office of 88IB revealed that 2 of the 4 captured rebels are minors. They are currently in the care of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Valencia City. Likewise, appropriate criminal charges are being prepared for the filing of cases to the other captured rebels.
LTC CHRISTIAN JAMES P VINGNO, Commanding Officer of 88IB in his statement said: “The comprehensive conduct of Community Support Program (CSP) and intel driven Intensified Military Operation (IMO) by the personnel of 88IB in the CTG guerilla zones and bases respectively coupled with the full support of the community have been instrumental in the rapid disintegration and destruction of the NPA formation in our area of operation. I strongly deplore the CNTs act of recruiting minors to be combatants. This is a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Once again to the remaining members of NPA terrorist, it’s not too late, leave the armed struggle and return to the folds of the law, start a new life and live peacefully with your family.
It can be recalled that on September 8, 2021, an armed encounter also transpired at the forested area of Barangay Mabuhay, San Fernando Bukidnon between the combined troops of 88IB against more less 20 CTGs under Ramil Banawan @Migs/Edukaw/Kim/Aliwas which resulted of 4 NPAs killed, 10 captured and 16 high-powered firearms recovered.
