PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur -- The 401st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army based in Agusan del Sur has recovered 11 high-powered firearms, two low-powered firearms, three anti-personnel mines and two NPA cadavers together with various war materials as its campaign intensifies in the whole province a week after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte called for an all-out war against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) on Sept. 19, 2019.
In compliance with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also announced on Wednesday an “all-out” war against communist rebels to finally end the five-decade-old insurgency problem in the country.
“With the pronouncement of PRRD, I ordered all commanders under my brigade to double their efforts to hit these NPA terrorists at all costs,” said Colonel Allan Hambala, commander of 401st Infantry “Unite N’ Fight” Brigade in Agusan del Sur.
Col. Hambala added that these significant accomplishments of battalions under his brigade are the results of the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 or the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict, and the high state of morale of the troops knowing that the president fully supports the Army’s mission on the ground.
Snowballing Number of Surrender
On Sept. 19, alias “Bong,” a 29 year old NPA medic, surrendered to 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Bayugan City, bringing along with him one Cal.50 Sniper rifle and one Cal. 45 pistol through a joint effort with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Force Battalion after having been traumatized by an encounter with the government troops, where one of his comrades was killed last December 2018.
This was in addition to the earlier surrender of two NPA elements led by alias “Sion” who disclosed an arms cache in the hinter area of Sitio Hugmakan, San Juan, Bayugan City, leading to the recovery of one M16 rifle and three Caliber 30 Garand rifles. They are all members of the Manobo tribe who decided to surrender because of continuous exploitation of the CPP-NPA in their tribal communities.
“We, the Lumads cannot say 'no' to NPAs when tasked to be their couriers because we will surely be killed. We were always threatened and coerced,” said alias Sion.
Another NPA squad leader and two members of Militia ng Bayan (MB) from Bunawan Brook also laid down their arms to the 75th Infantry Battalion on September 18 after experiencing hardship and demoralization inside the communist movement. They brought with them one M14 rifle, one Carbine rifle, two homemade shotguns, two Anti-Personnel Mines (APM), detonating cords and subversive documents.
These former rebels are now being processed by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office at Government Center, Capitol, Patin-ay for the immediate release of their financial assistance and psycho-social interventions under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), in which they are entitled to receive livelihood and housing assistance, educational program and other basic services of the government.
In compliance with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also announced on Wednesday an “all-out” war against communist rebels to finally end the five-decade-old insurgency problem in the country.
“With the pronouncement of PRRD, I ordered all commanders under my brigade to double their efforts to hit these NPA terrorists at all costs,” said Colonel Allan Hambala, commander of 401st Infantry “Unite N’ Fight” Brigade in Agusan del Sur.
Col. Hambala added that these significant accomplishments of battalions under his brigade are the results of the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 or the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict, and the high state of morale of the troops knowing that the president fully supports the Army’s mission on the ground.
Snowballing Number of Surrender
On Sept. 19, alias “Bong,” a 29 year old NPA medic, surrendered to 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Bayugan City, bringing along with him one Cal.50 Sniper rifle and one Cal. 45 pistol through a joint effort with the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Force Battalion after having been traumatized by an encounter with the government troops, where one of his comrades was killed last December 2018.
This was in addition to the earlier surrender of two NPA elements led by alias “Sion” who disclosed an arms cache in the hinter area of Sitio Hugmakan, San Juan, Bayugan City, leading to the recovery of one M16 rifle and three Caliber 30 Garand rifles. They are all members of the Manobo tribe who decided to surrender because of continuous exploitation of the CPP-NPA in their tribal communities.
“We, the Lumads cannot say 'no' to NPAs when tasked to be their couriers because we will surely be killed. We were always threatened and coerced,” said alias Sion.
Another NPA squad leader and two members of Militia ng Bayan (MB) from Bunawan Brook also laid down their arms to the 75th Infantry Battalion on September 18 after experiencing hardship and demoralization inside the communist movement. They brought with them one M14 rifle, one Carbine rifle, two homemade shotguns, two Anti-Personnel Mines (APM), detonating cords and subversive documents.
These former rebels are now being processed by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office at Government Center, Capitol, Patin-ay for the immediate release of their financial assistance and psycho-social interventions under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), in which they are entitled to receive livelihood and housing assistance, educational program and other basic services of the government.
“We at the Provincial Government are delighted of their surrender and hopeful that more will follow. Rest assured that we will provide them the needed services and benefits due to them through ECLIP. We also hope they are committed to do their share and never to return again to rebellion,” said Arlene Sanchez, Provincial Director, DILG, the lead agency on ECLIP and Amnesty Cluster of Agusan del Sur.
Focused Military Operations
Meanwhile, two cadavers of NPAs were left behind after a 30-minute encounter between the 26th Infantry Battalion and an estimated 60 fully-armed NPAs in an uninhabited part of Barangay Mahagsay, San Luis on Tuesday afternoon, resulting to the recovery of two AK 47 rifles, one AR18 rifle attached with M203 Grenade Launcher, magazines with live ammunitions, one APM, medical paraphernalia, foodstuffs, seven back packs and voluminous subversive documents. The government troops also seized the terrorists’ hideout with 50 improvised shelters.
The security operation was conducted after the military received reports from the tribal communities in the area regarding the presence of NPAs roaming around inside their ancestral domains.
Said cadavers were brought to Poblacion, San Luis and received by the local government officials for identification process and proper disposition. (Cpt. Aldim T. Viernes, CMO Officer, 401st Brigade, PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1027690
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