Friday, February 19, 2021

3 NPAs killed, 4 firearms seized in AgSur clash

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 19. 2021): 3 NPAs killed, 4 firearms seized in AgSur clash


BUTUAN CITY, Feb. 19 – Three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and three firearms to include assorted war materiel were seized after a five-minute firefight between the government troops and the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) at Sitio Damming, Barangay Zillovia, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur at around 2:00 p.m. on February 15, 2021.

Troops of 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion under the operational control of 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade clashed against more or less seven CNTs believed to be members of Guerilla Front 88 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

Said firefight resulted to the tragic demise of three CNTs and the seizure of the following items at the encounter site: one M16 rifle; two shotguns; one cal. 38; two hand grenades; one anti-personnel mine (APM); assorted ammunitions; five cellphones; one binocular; medical paraphernalia; 15 sets of Army Battle Dress Attire (BDA); lousy caps; combat boots; numerous ammunition of different caliber; and various subversive documents.

Brigadier General Maurito Licudine, the Commander of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, lauded the troops’ decisive victory and its persistent determination in tracking the NPA terrorists who were pestering the communities in the area. “This victory is for the people who for the longest time wanted to live without the intimidation and threat from the NPA Terrorist. We urge the CNT to stop using violence as it will not solve our problems,” he said.

Licudine also offered his sympathies to the dead NPAs and ensures that the cadavers will be turned over to the families once it will be identified for decent and proper burial. However, he emphasized that the tragic fate of the dead NPAs was a reminder of the futility of the armed struggle which the communist terrorist group is espousing and placing the lives of innocent youths and the masses who were deceived and exploited, to extreme danger during skirmishes.

“We reiterate our call to the remaining members of the NPA to voluntarily surrender and heed the call of peace. We want to assure the CNTs that our troops will be relentless in pursuing them, there is no other way for them but to lay down their arms or continue hiding and be hunted. It’s their choice but we insist that they follow the path of peace for the sake of their families and for the people who longed to live normal lives in peace,” BGen. Licudine bared.

No casualty on the government side and troops are still on pursuit operations. (Major Francisco Garello, Jr., CMO, 402nd Brigade/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1067214

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