CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – Troops of the 1st Special Forces Battalion led by Lt Col Vercisio San Jose encountered an estimated number of 30 CNTs in the tri-boundaries of the municipalities of Amai Manabilang, Lumba-Bayabao, and Maguing, all in Lanao del Sur province on January 20 which resulted in the seizure of five (5) high-powered firearms composed of two (2) Cal 5.56mm M16 Rifles; one (1) Cal 5.56mm M653 Rifle; one (1) Cal 7.62mm M14 rifle; one (1) Cal 7.62mm AK-47 Rifle
It can be recalled that the same unit encountered an estimated fifty (50) fully armed CPP-NPA Terrorist (CNTs) in Amay Manabilang, Lanao del Sur province last January 8 that resulted in the death of one (1) male CNT member identified as alias Rasty/Hasel/Ade and the seizure of one (1) General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) as well as four (4) other high-powered firearms.
In a statement, 4ID Acting Commander Brigadier General Oliver T Vesliño said that 4ID is determined to fulfill its mandated task of ending insurgency before President Duterte’s term ends.
“The people already manifested that they do not want the terrorist group in their communities, hence, we will not stop. We will use all available resources and the necessary force to quell these remaining terrorists. We will remain relentless in our combat and non-combat operations to finally win the peace for the safety and well-being of the people. I urge the NPAs to stop fighting, after all, we are all Filipinos, and instead return now to the folds of the law and avail the E-CLIP,” BGen Vesliño said.
For January alone, 4ID initiated 15 armed encounters against the CNTs which resulted in the death of (3) CNTs which were killed during encounters and the seizure of 35 high-powered and low powered firearms while 27 CNTs also surrendered during the period.
