Kalinaw News: 3 CTG Members neutralized, 16 High-Powered Firearms Seized in a Justice-Driven and Relentless Ops of Army’s 9ID and PRO5 PNP in Masbate

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jun 10, 2021): 3 CTG Members neutralized, 16 High-Powered Firearms Seized in a Justice-Driven and Relentless Ops of Army’s 9ID and PRO5 PNP in Masbate

Determined to serve justice to the families of the victims in the recent Masbate City bombing, the Army’s 9 Infantry Division and PNP Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) conducted extensive and relentless joint pursuit operations which resulted in another successful engagement, Tuesday, June 8.

Three members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) were killed while three M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, various war materials and terrorist’s propaganda materials were initially seized when government forces engaged the CTG in an armed encounter.
Prior to this, residents reported about the presence of CTG members in Barangay Anas which prompted the operating troops to scour the area and encountered at least 30 communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) around 5:30 in the morning.

Intense gun fight lasted for 15 minutes before the enemies left in haste. Two hours later, government troops captured another 12 high-powered firearms comprised of 11 M16 rifles and one M653 rifle hidden in a nipa hut at the boundary of Barangay Anas and Barangay Bolo both of Masbate City believed to be left behind by the scampering and fleeing terrorists. Lieutenant Colonel Siegfried Felipe Awichen, Battalion Commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB) attributed this successful operation to the Masbateños who, out of anger over CTG’s recent terror attack, tipped off the location of the communist insurgents.

Colonel Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, on the other hand, assured the public that the Army and police will not stop until all CTG members responsible for the said terror attack are put behind bars. “We will not allow these terrorists to continue killing innocent people and destroying hopes and dreams of our youth. Our persistent operations will continue to make sure that those who participated in this crime will rot in prison,” Col. Almase said.

Meanwhile, Probationary Brigadier General Jonnel C Estomo, Regional Director of PRO-5 called on the CTG members to just go down and surrender. Estomo also thanked the concerned civilians that provided information leading to the successful operations.
“Alam naming pagod na kayong magtago lalo na ngayong mas pinaigting at pinalawak pa namin ang aming ginagawang operasyon. Alalahanin ninyo ang inyong mga pamilya. Para sa kanila, sumuko na lamang kayo,” PBGen. Estomo said.

Furthermore, Major General Henry A Robinson JR PA, Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia warned the CNTs that they are doomed once they do not surrender and admit to their crimes.

“We do not tolerate terrorism. Thus, we are giving these evildoers two options: to keep their lives or to die fighting against our troops who are scouring every nook and cranny of Masbate province just to find them. Bright future awaits the Absalons had it not been for this terrorist group’s wickedness. But we are confident that they will all face the consequences of their crimes, especially that the Masbateños who are expressing strong repulsion over the CTG’s inhuman acts and lawlessness are one with us in this fight,” MGen. Robinson said.

It can be recalled that last Sunday, CTG members detonated an anti-personnel mine in Masbate City killing FEU’s football player, Keith Absalon and his cousin, Nolven.

[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]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/3-ctg-members-neutralized-16-high-powered-firearms-seized-in-a-justice-driven-and-relentless-ops-of-armys-9id-and-pro5-pnp-in-masbate/