CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – Following the arrest of two (2) high-ranking CPP-NPA Terrorist leaders and 2 others in Brgy Alagatan, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental on September 16, 2021, Major General Romeo S Brawner Jr, Commander of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, said that the forces of the CPP-NPA-NDF also known as the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) are on the brink of their collapse in 4ID AOR.
Per 4ID record, thirty-five (35) high ranking CTG leaders and key personalities have been neutralized since January 2021 either thru surrender or arrest or killed during encounters that paralyzed the CTG and impressed upon an overwhelming chilling effect on the ranks of the CTG. Leadership vacuum also looms particularly with the recent surrender of the head of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee’s (NCRMC’s) Guerilla Front 4A (GF4A) and the capture of a CTG Central Committee member.
Since the assumption of MGen Brawner Jr as 4ID Commander on July 5, 2021, 85 CTG leaders and members have surrendered, were apprehended or were killed during military operations. A total of 94 high-powered and low-powered firearms were gained. Since January 2021, a total of 377 CTG members have been neutralized with a total of 334 high powered and low-powered firearms gained.
Khim Agad Mapoy alias Patrick, the Secretary of the dismantled GF4A of NCMRC who surrendered on Wednesday to 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) in Agusan del Norte, revealed that NPA forces are now at its lowest morale due to the series of setbacks of their organization in Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions. Adding to their woes, he said, is the diminishing mass support that crippled their ideological, political and organizational (IPO) works in areas that they have targeted for recovery and continuous expansion.
Meanwhile, the capture of NCMRC’s Sub Regional Committee 1 (SRC1) Secretary and Deputy Secretary, Manuelito Satur alias Musong and Merlyn Satur alias Maya by the joint forces of 58IB, Intelligence units and Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10) in Gingoog City last September 16, 2021, is another devastating blow to the National Operations Command of the CTG in Mindanao. Moreover, Adelaida ‘Loida’ Magpatoc, alias Gwen/Emyang/Kudaw/Robby, a former secretary of Far South Mindanao Regional Party Committee (FSMR), NDF consultant and CPP-NPA-NDF Central Committee member was also captured in Brgy Paitan, Quezon, Bukidnon.
In his statement, MGen Brawner Jr underscored the vital role of the Regional Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in steering the wheel, sustaining the momentum on the government’s peace efforts, and now reaping the gains in the fight against the CPP-NPA-NDF.
MGen Brawner Jr also said that the support of the Local Chief Executives and the top officials of regional government agencies is the driving force that fueled the participation of the local populace to stand firm and fight the menace of the society, the CPP-NPA-NDF.
“The people have seen that their government leaders, civil-society, and key heads of the indigenous cultural communities are serious in their collective task to end the local communist armed conflict. The whole of nation approach has been the common language that resonated to all peace seeking partners with the end view of ending over 5 decades of insurgency problem in Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions. While the AFP and other law enforcement agencies run after the CTG’s armed component, the government agencies led by the local leaders addresses the roots of the problem and implement development projects”, MGen Brawner Jr said.
“With the said peace strategy, eventually the CTG were easily located and exposed, leaders and members walks away and respond to our call of peace, and mass supporters were dissuaded to join the CTG and are no longer fascinated with the idea of the armed struggle as a means or a hope to transform their communities. Now, we can say that the CTG crumbles like no other before and clearly nearing on its collapse and eventual end”, MGen Brawner Jr added.
