San Agustin, Surigao del Sur – Troops belonging to the 9th Special Forces “Hounds” Company 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn) have foiled a communist NPA terrorists’ (CNTs’) harassment plan to civilians and government troops in Sitio Sparcoot, Barangay Gata, San Agustin around 9:30 a.m. Sunday amid the declaration of ceasefire truce extension until April 30 in line with COVID-19 crisis.
A short firefight of around 10 minutes ensued allowing the army recovery of four (4) International Humanitarian Law (IHL)-banned anti-personnel improvised landmines, an AK-47 magazine with full ammunition and subversive documents.
It was gathered that there were no casualties on the government side during the firefight while the CNTs scampered for safety in different directions.
Operating troops claim the CNTs were in the act of laying improvised landmines along farm trails, which can both be dangerous for government troops and civilians, when troops chanced upon on them.
Lieutenant Colonel Joey B. Baybayan INF GSC PA, 3SFBn Commanding Officer, said that the CNTs’ declaration of ceasefire is nothing but for a show and without sincerity citing that CNTs’ ceasefire declaration was only intended to cover and allow them to prepare future terroristic attacks.
“We all know that time and again, the Communist NPA Terrorists violate any ceasefire agreement. The definition of ceasefire for them is a deceptive means to prepare and buy time for future terroristic attacks,” LTC Baybayan, said.
Colonel Allan D. Hambala, 401st Infantry Brigade Commander said that his troops will remain steadfast in fulfilling its role in the implementation of each LGUs’ respective COVID-19 Task Forces within their areas of responsibility.
“With the CNTs’ recent attempt to hamper the distribution of social amelioration cash in Agusan del Sur which resulted to the Army’s recovery of 5 high-powered firearms, we should have no let-up in continuing our efforts to secure the seamless delivery of government services amid the COVID-19 crisis,” Colonel Hambala, said.
“The CNTs’ declaration of ceasefire and their false hopes in the peace talks can never be trusted. We will only believe their sincerity in achieving lasting peace if they (their leaders and elements) will come down and surrender themselves and their firearms peacefully and return to the folds of law,” the brigade commander, exclaimed.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
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