NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) continues to see a rising trend of neutralization of the members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) over the past weeks.
The data from Eastmincom shows that there were 48 encounters with the CTG in October and the first quarter of November which resulted in the death of 10 Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) and the capture of 20 more.
A total of 29 firearms were also voluntarily surrendered by the former rebels to the troops in the same period and had been remunerated through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The series of surgical operations launched by Eastmincom’s units in its area of responsibility in October and the first half of November have also resulted in the discovery of 60 CTG hideouts and the capture of 64 high-powered and low-powered firearms.
There had been a total of 3,832 neutralized CNTs and their allies in the Eastern Mindanao region from January 1 to November 16, 2020, according to the records of Eastmincom. Out of this figure, 3,652 are dissociated members of the Underground Mass Organizations (UGMO) and CNT surrenderees while the remaining numbers are CTG members who were either apprehended or killed in combat.
An encounter between the 27th Infantry Battalion (27th IB) and some undetermined number of CNTs under a certain Arian Jane Ochita Ramos alias Marikit inside the vicinity of So Quibolog, Barangay Mapula I Paquibato District, Davao City on November 14, 2020 resulted in the arrest of two newly recruited teachers of the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI) Academy identified as Geliejorain Ngojo and Nasria Bansil.
A pursuit operation conducted by the 89th Infantry Battalion on the following day in response to the armed clash in Paquibato District also led to another exchange of fire between the troops and the fleeing CNTs under Alias Marikit at Sitio Lower Mapula, Barangay Mapula in Paquibato District.
The 15-minute firefight dispersed the CNTs while two others identified as Archie Sagan-a alias Bogard and Ryan Ligkat alias Ryan were killed after succumbing to gunshot wounds. The troops were also able to recover several firearms and personal belongings which were abandoned by the fleeing CNTs.
Another skirmish also erupted on November 15, 2020 at So. Polia, Barangay Marayag in Lupon, Davao Oriental between the troops and some 20 CNT members which led to the capture of the enemy’s firearms and other valuables.
In a previous report, six CNTs belonging to the Guerilla Front 53 (GF53) also yielded to the troops of the 16th Infantry Battalion (16th IB) at So. Guitawan, Barangay Poblacion, Arakan in Cotabato on November 10, 2020 at around 5 pm.
One of the six surrenderees later disclosed to the troops that they had entrusted a courier to hide their high-powered firearms. A follow-up operation led the troops to the CNT’s trusted courier who eventually conceded to the authorities by divulging the location of the firearms. Troops successfully captured the hidden firearms and had taken custody of the surrenderees for the proper disposition of the case.
Troops from the 28th Infantry Battalion (28th IB) were also able to recover an M14 rifle and M203 grenade launcher belonging to the CTG during an operation conducted at Sitio Banhawan, Brgy Marayag, Lupon in Davao Oriental on November 9, 2020.
Meanwhile, seven more CNTs including a high-ranking personality had raised the white flag anew as a result of the enhanced implementation of the military’s Community Support Program (CSP) in the remote communities.
The seven CNTs, who were identified as members of the dismantled Weakened Guerilla Front (WGF) Tala of the Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) and the dissolved Guerilla Front 51, Southern Regional Committee 3 (SRC3) of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), surrendered to the troops of the 73rd Infantry Battalion (73rd IB) at So. Luot, Poblacion, Malapatan in Sarangani Province on November 10, 2020.
The surrenderees revealed that the deployment of Community Development Teams (CDTs) in the remote communities encouraged them to yield. Their desire to surrender was further amplified by the aggravating circumstances that they were facing such as the difficulty to keep their cause afloat amid the impending danger and hunger.
LtGen Jose C. Faustino, Jr., Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command, lauded the troops’ dedication in delivering development-oriented and people-centric programs in the communities which hamper the CTG from getting more recruits and encourage members of the CNTs to surrender.
“This is only one of the many proofs that Eastmincom does not only contribute to the attainment of sustainable peace but also paves the path towards progress in remote communities,” LtGen Faustino said.
The Eastmincom Commander also expressed his gratitude to the local government agencies who helped in making the CSP a success.
“The success of the CSP would not be possible if it were not for the strong support of the local officials and agencies under the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC). Indeed, our synergy and sustained cooperation make the vision of an insurgency-free Philippines possible,” he added.
Meanwhile, LtGen Faustino stressed that the CTG’s planned offensives will be disadvantageous to them as all favorable signs point that the troops have the upper hand in terms of resources and manpower.
“We have seen the dwindling numbers of the CNTs over the years. It is only a matter of time before we can see their group’s total collapse,” the Commander said, urging the remaining CNTs to abandon their lost cause and to join their former colleagues who have embraced the law and are enjoying the benefits from the government that come with their decision to surrender.
“To the remaining CNTs, the government, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), believes in second chance. This is your chance to embrace the law again. If you lay down your arms, a good future and many opportunities await you under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP),” LtGen Faustino reiterated.
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