Kalinaw News: Army and PNP Strike Back, Seize Volumes of CTG’s War Materiel in Sorsogon

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 5, 2021): Army and PNP Strike Back, Seize Volumes of CTG’s War Materiel in Sorsogon

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur-Report from vigilant residents who despise communist terrorism led to the seizure of arms cache owned by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in Barangay San Bartolome, Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon at around 10:55 in the morning, Tuesday, October 5.

An M16 rifle, three sacks containing 212 brand new magazines for M16 rifles, two anti-personnel mines, three sacks, and one large can contain 5,245 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 34 blasting caps (two of them with detonating cord) were seized by the combined elements of 22nd Infantry Battalion (22IB), 31st Infantry Battalion (31IB), 903rd Infantry Brigade, 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company (93DRC), R2, PRO5; RMFB5; Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (SPPO), Sta. Magdalena Municipal Police Station, 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (2PMFC), and different intelligence units of Army and PNP.

Lt. Col. Nelson Mico, Battalion Commander of 22IB said that the eagerness of the residents to help the authorities hunt down CTG members and locate their war materiel is a manifestation of their utter disgust with the nuisances caused by communist insurgents.

It was learned that prior to this, communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) conducted indiscriminate firing that annoyed the locals of Barangays where there are CAA detachments.

Col. Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of 903rd Brigade, said that if these war materiels were not seized, the CTG can use them in their atrocities against the government troops and innocent civilians.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga Sorsoganon dahil ang kanilang ibinigay na impormasyon ay napakalaking tulong upang mapigilan natin ang anumang pinaplanong terorismo at karahasan ng CTG sa kabikolan. Akala siguro nila matatakot nila tayo o ang mga residente sa pamamagitan ng isinasagawa nilang indiscriminate firing. Binubulabog lang nila ang mga komunidad na lalo lang nagdudulot ng pagkamuhi ng mga mamamayan at nagiging sanhi ng pag-aalsa laban sa kanilang kasamaan,” Col. Almase said.

PBGEN JONNEL C ESTOMO, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5), emphasized that the effective interoperability of Army and PNP coupled with the support of the Bicolanos make one formidable force that the CTG can never bring down.

“Ito ang panlaban natin sa CTG: ang pagkakaisa natin tungo sa iisang layuning tapusin na ang mahigit limang dekadang armadong tunggalian,” PBGen. Estomo said.

Furthermore, MGEN HENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia, commended the troops for their persistence not just in the campaign of the government to wipe out CTG but in their efforts to gain the trust and support of the local populace.

“Maliban sa sunod-sunod na pagkakasamsam natin ng mga armas ng kalaban, mga successful operations at paglobo ng bilang ng mga surrenderers, ang isa sa pinakamalaki nating tagumpay ang nakukuha nating suporta mula sa mga Bicolano. Isa itong patunay na nakikita nila ang kagandahan ng isinusulong na kampanya ng ating pamahalaan at ang positibong resulta sa oras na tuluyan nang mawala ang insurhensya,” MGen. Robinson said.

It can be recalled that just last September 30, government troops also seized 292 pcs. of blasting caps which can be used in manufacturing anti-personnel mines and 64 pcs. of disposable needles in Barangay Cawayan, Irosin, and the next day, another M16 rifle was also seized in the same area. These continuing successful government operations also came after numerous neutralizations of high-ranking CTG personalities in Sorsogon and Masbate provinces.

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