CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – One (1) CPP NPA Terrorist (CNT) has died, and two (2) high-powered firearms and other war paraphernalia were captured in three (3) successive clashes yesterday, August 26, 2024, by the 4ID troops against the communist terrorist group (CTG) in the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte.
The combined elements of the 29thInfantry Battalion and Special Recon unit, under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade, have clashed against more or less five members of Platoon 1 of the Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad (SRSDG) Westland, of the so-called North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) at Brgy. De Oro, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte at past midnight on August 26, 2024. The encounter led to the death of a CTG member identified as Aldo Gano alias Tulong, a resident of Sto. Nino, Bayugan City, and the capture of one AK47 rifle with magazine, ammunition, and a backpack.
On the same day, around 6:55 in the morning, the 65th Infantry Battalion, also under the operational control of the 901st Brigade, encountered members of Platoon 3 of the same CTG unit in the hinterlands of Purok 4, Brgy. Villangit, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur. The firefight resulted in the capture of one M653 rifle with a magazine and other personal belongings of CNTs.
Brigadier General Arsenio Sadural, Commander of 901st Brigade disclosed that the operation is an offshoot of the encounters of 29IB last August 19 in Brgy Salvacion Butuan City, and on August 24 in Brgy Tabon-tabon, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur against the members of the of Regional Headquarters (RHQ) of the so-called North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
“SRSDG Westland is one of the units we believe is securing top CTG leader Myrna Sularte alias Maria Malaya (MM) and her group, the RHQ, NEMRC. The endline of MM, the wife of the late George Madlos is near. It would be best for her to chose to surrender or suffer the consequence for her responsibility to numerous crimes against the people of the region. Our forces, with the aid of civilian informants are hot on track against the group. It’s not too late for Sularte to yield and avail the government’s offer of amnesty,” BGen Sadural added.
Meanwhile, 4ID Commander Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II directed all units under the Joint Task Force Diamond in the Caraga region to sustain the offensives and aggressively pursue the CTG remnants, especially the leadership of the NEMRC led by Myrna Sularte. “The military offensives will continue with no let-up. We will never allow them breathing space. With the ongoing cooperation and support of other stakeholders, we are committed and will use all available forces and resources in hunting and defeating the CTG,” MGen Cuerpo said.
