CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – A top official of Caraga Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) on Wednesday, Nov. 23, claimed that the government is winning in its fight against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in all fronts in Northeastern Mindanao.
“Their (CPP-NPA) lost mass-base and the continuous surrender and arrest of their officials, arm regulars, supporters and followers are the basis that the government is already strategically winning,” stressed PRO 13 Regional Director P/Brig. Gen. Pablo G. Labra ll during the 1st Meet The Press Forum held at the PRO 13 Regional Command Multi-Purpose Building here on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
“The unified effort, close coordination and focus of military and police operations also led to the dismantling of guerilla fronts, while all-out support of all local government units and line agencies also led the successful operation of the government’s peace and development program,” the top police official in the Caraga region pointed out.
From January this year to Nov. 23, about 128 CPP-NPA members were already arrested and 412 voluntarily surrendered to the different units spread in the five provinces and six cities of Northeastern Mindanao, the military said.
Just recently, three CPP-NPA members were arrested and another 17 Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members also surrendered with six small weapons and bomb-making materials including 10 explosives surrendered to various police units in the region, the regional command of PRO 13 also reported.
The number one most wanted CTG member on the list of PRO 13, with seven standing warrants of arrest, was also arrested during a joint manhunt operation at Purok 1, Barangay Diego Silang here.
In the same forum, Brig. Gen. Labra announced the additional deployment of police forces in various areas in the region, particularly in urban areas in an objective to maintain peace and harmony during the celebration of the ‘Yuletide Season.’
Meanwhile, Gen. Labra lauded the men and women of Philippine National Police Caraga for the remarkable accomplishments during the region-wide Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) last week.
The top police official in the region averred that with the intensified anti-criminality campaign and peacekeeping efforts of Caraga cops, the one-day SACLEO led to the apprehension of 299 law violators comprising high-ranking wanted persons, other wanted persons, drug personalities and CTG members.
Based on the consolidated data from the PRO 13 Regional Operations Division (ROD), Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (PPO) topped in accomplishments on the campaign against illegal drugs with six drug personalities arrested, and in illegal logging with one arrested and P64,920 worth of hot logs confiscated. The Surigao PPO also apprehended 47 violators in fishing, with 50 wanted persons arrested.
On the other hand, Agusan del Norte PPO topped in the campaign against illegal gambling with 16 persons arrested and four suspects arrested over possession of loose firearms.
Dinagat Islands PPO, Surigao del Norte PPO, Butuan City Police Office (BCPO), Agusan del Sur PPO, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13, Regional Intelligence Unit, Regional Intelligence Division, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also significantly contributed to the overall success of the region-wide accomplishments of PNP Caraga.
"I commend all Caraga cops for showing strong commitment and dedication in performing the job as law enforcers. But the work doesn't end there,” said Gen. Labra.
“We will continue our aggressive anti-criminality and anti-insurgency campaign, supported by our more improved Police-Community Relations activities, to ensure peace and order in the region," stated General Labra.