Kalinaw News: Report from Residents Leads to the Seizure of War Materiel in Sorsogon

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 2, 2021): Report from Residents Leads to the Seizure of War Materiel in Sorsogon



CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – An M16 rifle, magazines and bomb-making components were seized by the government troops in two separate operations in Barangay Cawayan, Irosin, Sorsogon.

Reports from the residents about the war materiel hidden by the members of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the hinterlands of Barangay Cawayan prompted the elements of 22nd Infantry Battalion (22IB) and PNP to scour the area which resulted in the seizure of 292 pieces of blasting caps which can be used in manufacturing anti-personnel mines and 64 pieces of disposable needles around 5:30 in the morning last September 30.

Meanwhile, during the follow-up operation on October 1 at around 7:50 in the morning, troops noticed a suspicious unidentified person in a nipa hut, who, upon seeing them suddenly ran away.

Upon scouring the area, troops captured an M16 rifle and magazines wrapped in a sack of rice inside the hut.

Lieitenant Colonel Nelson Mico, Battalion Commander of 22IB directed the troops to continue conducting extensive operations to hunt down communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) who are possibly hiding in the nearby Barangays and preempt any unlawful acts they plan to hurl.

Meanwhile, Colonel Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of 903rd Infantry Brigade, once again warned the CTG about the government troops’ crackdown against them.

“Baka akala ng CTG nakatutok lang tayo sa Masbate, nagkakamali sila. Sa mga isla man o sa mainland, wala na silang pagtataguan dahil sa mas pinaigting nating mga operasyon na ang layunin ay pigilan ang kanilang karahasan at tuluyan ng tuldukan ang insurhensya sa Bicol,” Colonel Almase said.

On the other hand, POLICE BRIGADIER GENERAL JONNEL C ESTOMO, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) said that every PNP station is open for CTG members and supporters who want to surrender.

“Nakahanda ang pulisya na tulungan kayong makababa ng ligtas mula sa kabundukan kung gusto na ninyong sumuko. Lumapit lamang kayo sa amin,” Police Brigadier General Estomo said.

Moreover, with its unstoppable gains through the series of successful operations, the Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia under MAJOR GENERAL HENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, expressed its confidence in finally eradicating communist insurgency in Bicol.

“Kaya walang tigil ang ating panawagan sa mga natitirang miyembro ng CTG dahil tuloy-tuloy tayo sa pagtugis sa kanila saan man sila naroroon at kapag hindi sila nagbalik-loob, maaaring matulad sila sa mga napaslang nilang kasamahan sa mga engkwentro o kaya naman sa mga nahuli at nakulong. Kaya kung ako sa kanila, gayahin na lang nila ang daan-daang mga CTG members and supporters na inabandona na ang teroristang grupo kapalit ng mas mapayapa at maayos na pamumuhay. Maaari silang lumapit sa ating mga tropa sa mga komunidad upang matulungan silang makabalik sa kanilang mga pamilya ng ligtas,” Major General Robinson said.

It can be recalled that last September 2, in exactly the same Barangay, joint operations of Army and PNP resulted in the killing of two CTG members, surrender of two others including the leader of Platoon 1, Larangan 2 of Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC) and seizure of six M16 rifles, three anti-personnel mines and personal belongings.

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https://www.kalinawnews.com/report-from-residents-leads-to-the-seizure-of-war-materiel-in-sorsogon/