CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – The troops of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division captured 20 high-powered firearms and neutralized seven CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) after successive military offensives against the remnants of the communist terrorist group (CTG) in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, and Claveria, Misamis Oriental on June 16, and in Malabalay City, Bukidnon on June 17.
A decisive encounter by the combined troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Cresencio Gargar and the 30th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Jerold Jale, both under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade, led to the death of one male and two female CNTs and the capture of five AK47 Rifles, four AR18 Rifles, three M4 Rifles, two M203 Grenade Launchers, an M16 Rifle, and communist terrorist documents on Friday morning, June 16, in Mt. Apo-Apo, Sitio Dugyaman, Brgy. Anticala, Butuan City.
901st Brigade Commander Brig. General George Banzon said that troops were responding to the reports from concerned citizens and were able to seize the lair of more or less 30 combined elements of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 21C, Guerilla Front 21 (SYP21C, GF21) and Platoon Dao, Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad (SRSDG) Westland, both under the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Westland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
In a recent development yesterday, BGen. Banzon added that troops of 30IB conducting a clearing and thorough search at the encounter site discovered an abandoned lifeless body of a male and female CNT and also recovered one AK47 Rifle, totaling now to five CNTs killed and 16 HPFAs captured during the said encounter.
Meanwhile, troops of the 58th Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Christian Uy, under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, led by BGen. Adonis Ariel Orio encountered more or less fifteen CNTs believed to be members of SRSDG MTJ Eagles, SRC 1, NCMRC in the vicinity of Malatuka, Sitio Kalhaan, Brgy Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental on June 16 in the afternoon, around 04:35 PM. Said encounter resulted in the death of one female CNT and the capture of an M16 Rifle and an M14 Rifle.
Furthermore, the 403rd Infantry Brigade, led by BGen. Michele Anayron Jr., continues its dismantling of the remaining CTG formations in their area following the encounter of the 8th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Anthony Bacus against more or less 10 CNTs believed to be members of RSDG Compaq of NCMRC at Sitio Malinao, Brgy Kalasungay, Malaybalay, Bukidnon on June 17, around 5:25 AM.
“After the encounter on Friday afternoon against the same group, our troops tirelessly tracked and continued their pursuit operations. Aided by the information from local residents, we chanced upon them, and a 15-minute firefight ensued, which resulted in the death of one (1) female CNT and capture of one (1) AK47 Rifle, one (1) M14 Rifle, one (1) Anti-Personnel Mine, one (1) backpack with personal belongings, and other war paraphernalia”, BGen Anayron Jr said.
In a statement, MGen. Cuerpo II underscored the no-let-up military offensives as highly reflective of their commitment to pushing for the total defeat of the CTG. He said the successive defeats have further shaken and demoralized the weakening CTG and credited these recent accomplishments to the steadfast commitment of 4ID troops and the people.
