Kalinaw News: Joint forces of 5ID and 7ID deliver devastating blow against the disintegrated NPAs in Cordillera

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 29, 2021): Joint forces of 5ID and 7ID deliver devastating blow against the disintegrated NPAs in Cordillera



CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela- Troops of 72 Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) under the operational control of 54th Infantry Battalion, 5th Infantry Division scored against the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in an encounter in Barangay Mainit, Bontoc, Mt. Province on September 28, 2021.

The troops acted to verify the information tipped-off by the locals about the presence of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) when more or less 10 CTG members fired upon them. A firefight ensued that lasted for about 30 minutes and resulted in the death of two CTG members. The two were identified as certain Ernesto Lucaben Jr, alias Ashley/Lando, and Wilfredo Gaayon alyas Jaz, both remnants of KLG-AMPIS. The troops also recovered one M14 rifle, five (5) pieces magazine of M14 rifle loaded with 70 rounds of ammunition, three (3) pieces AK79 rifle magazine loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition, nine (9) pieces of anti-personnel mines, two (2) rifle grenades, two (2) hand grenades, two (2) pieces blasting caps, wires, medicines, and other personal belongings that were left by the CTGs when they fled after the firefight. No casualty was reported on the government side.

It can be noted that the locals of Mt. Province declared the Communist Terrorist Group and its allied organizations as Persona Non Grata in their communities.

Major General Laurence E Mina, Commander of 5ID warned the remaining CTGs to stop their so-called armed revolution that wasted the lives of many individuals. “Barangay Mainit, Bontoc, Mt Province is not a place for you to hide. The people are giving us information about your presence in their community. We are one with the peace-loving residents of the said locality.”

“We wish to see you start a new life. And so, I am appealing to the remaining members of the CTGs to return to the folds of the law and avail the assistance of the government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP),” the general concluded.

[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/joint-forces-of-5id-and-7id-deliver-devastating-blow-against-the-disintegrated-npas-in-cordillera/