Continuous debacles plague NPA terrorists in Caraga

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 7, 2021): Continuous debacles plague NPA terrorists in Caraga (By 3rd Special Forces Battalion, PA)

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Jan. 7 – Another Communist New People's Army Terrorist (CNT) died recently and five high-powered firearms were seized in an hour-long encounter between the 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion (3SFBn) troops under the 4th Infantry Division and more or less 30 CNTs under the Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad (SRSDG) Southland, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee led by Rizaldy Sumonod alias “Mansoy” in Sitio Paradise, Barangay Magsaysay, Agusan del Sur.

These five firearms recovered consisted of three M16 5.56 caliber rifles, one AK-47 rifle.

Other war materials recovered were: one IHL-banned anti-personnel land mine, nine rounds 40mm M203 grenade launcher ammos, 50 rounds 7.62mm M60 ammos, two sets of commercial radios, 15 backpacks and personal belongings, medical supplies and equipment, three keypad cellular phones, one touch screen android phone, and 20 meters electrical wire.

The discovered CNT hideout is about 200 square meters (10mx20m) which can accommodate more or less 30 CNTs and had 15 makeshift tents and kitchen paraphernalia.

With the recent efforts of the National Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in exposing the deceptive scheme and the grand conspiracy of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (NDF) within various sectors of society, people in CARAGA, particularly the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), vowed to track down Communist NPA Terrorists and their front group leaders such as the Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU) to put an end to their countless atrocities and crimes against the people.

It can be recalled that CNT Jevilyn Cullamat, daughter of Bayan Muna Representative Eufemia Campos Cullamat, and top CNT leader and spokesperson of the NDF Mindanao and Komisyun Mindanao (KOMMID) Alvin Loque, suffered the same tragic fate last November 28 and December 10 sequentially in Surigao del Sur as a result of the vigilance and information gathering of the IP communities.

CNT personalities and their front groups were already declared persona-non-grata in the whole Province of Surigao del Sur and in the municipality of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur where the recent clash between government forces and CNTs ensued.

“The succeeding debacles of the NPA Terrorists in Caraga only show that people had enough of them. They no longer have a safe haven in the IP communities because for sure they will be reported and tracked down,” said Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, 3SFBn Commanding Officer.

“We are saddened with the fact that another victim of the CPP-NPA-NDF died in vain. We do not want this that is why we need to support the NTF-ELCAC to put an end to the CNTs’ useless struggle by peacefully addressing the root causes of NPA terrorism-that of peace and development program implementation for the conflict-affected and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas where CNTs recruit and conduct Ideological, Political and Organizing works (IPOW),” said BGen. Allan Hambala, 401st Infantry Brigade Commander.

“We call on the remaining CNTs to bring their firearms and go down to surrender and return to the folds of law. The door towards a peaceful life is always open for those who wish to peacefully surrender. Having that said, we will remain focused and enthusiastic on our mission to end local communist armed conflict in the soonest time possible in the Caraga region,” underscored MGen. Andres C. Centino, Commander of 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. (1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, CMO, 3SFBn/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1063168