BUTUAN CITY – Soldiers killed two leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and a team leader of the NPA in encounters in Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Norte on Tuesday, May 21.
Lt. Col. Francisco P. Garello Jr., chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Army 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, said the encounter in Misamis Oriental erupted after the 16th Infantry Battalion under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry Brigade, 4th ID, received information from concerned citizens in Barangay Bal-ason, Gingoog City, regarding the presence of communist guerrillas.
These rebels from the Sub-regional Sentro de Gravidad MTJ Eagles of the Sub-Regional Committee 1 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee were attempting to regain their lost mass base through recruitment and extortion activities.
“Our peace and development teams of the 16th IB immediately responded to the request of the villagers that prompted a gun battle,” Garello said.
Lt. Col. Warren O. Daroy, commanding officer of the 16th IB, said that Ka Poldo, secretary of Sub-Regional Committee 1, and Ka Erbing, commanding officer of SRSDG Eagles, were killed in the encounter that lasted for 10 minutes.
“The two fatalities were high-value individuals who we have been tracking for months, and they were responsible for directing atrocities and criminal activities in Misamis Oriental and parts of Agusan Norte,”
Daroy said.
Recovered from fatalities were M16 Armalite rifles, bandoliers, magazines, ammunition, and personal belongings.
The third fatality was Ka Sadam, leader of Squad 2, Platoon 1, of the SRSDG West Land under the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Sadam was killed in a five-minute encounter with the 29th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Cresencio C. Gargar under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade in Sitio Madbad, Bangonay, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.
Found in the encounter site were one caliber 9mm pistol, one caliber .45 pistol, and assorted live ammunitions.
“The operation is the result of our intensified pursuit operations to track down CTG remnants after receiving several reports from concerned citizens on the extortion activities in our area of operations. The CNTs abandoned their comrade and left him dead without regard or value for his life. We coordinated with Santiago Municipal Police Station and the municipal LGU of Jabonga and turned over the cadaver for proper disposition,” Gargar added.
Major Gen. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, 4th ID chief, commended troops for swiftly responding to reports from concerned citizens and thwarting the NPA from conducting atrocities in vulnerable communities.
Cuerpo said these actions displayed the constant support that the government is receiving from the peace-loving people of Misamis Oriental and Agusan del Norte.