BUTUAN CITY – Soldiers from the 36th Infantry Battalion seized New People’s Army guns and bullets in an encounter in Calatngan, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on Friday afternoon, September 6.
Lt. Col. Francisco P. Garello Jr., 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division Public Affairs Office chief, said this is another significant milestone in the 36th IB’s relentless pursuit of the remaining Dismantled Guerilla Front 30 in the province.
Garello said they are pursuing the fleeing communist rebels, some of who might be wounded due to bloodstains in their escape route.
No casualty was reported on the government side.
Garello said the government is winning the war against insurgency in Surigao del Sur.
Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, head of the 901st Infantry Brigade, urged DGF 30 remnants to surrender.
“With our focused military operations (FMOs) and relentless pursuit, their only option is to surrender,” he said. “We call on the remaining CTG members to surrender, avail of the Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), reunite with their families, and reintegrate into society away from danger.”
Meanwhile, the Local Conflict Transformation Field Implementing Support Unit of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity echoed Garello’s statement that the government is winning the war against insurgency.
“Yes, we are winning the war as more guerilla fronts, their leaders and withdrawal of support from mass bases highlight the gains against communist insurgency in Caraga and Davao regions,” LCT-FISU Program Development and Operations Officer Oliver M. Binancilan during a two-day media orientation at the Butuan City Hotel and Convention Center.
The event was a joint effort of the OPAPRU and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) led by Assistant Director-General for Organization and Development and International Affairs Tadeo Culla and PIA-13 Regional Director Venus L. Garcia.
“This activity broadens the perspectives of media practitioners on the OPAPRUs Local Peace Engagements (LPE) and transformation program,” they said.
More than 12,000 communist rebels, militias, and supporters in the Caraga and Davao regions have surrendered and been helping government peace and development programs.