Kalinaw News: Communist terrorist group leader, cohorts neutralized in Sultan Kudarat

From Kalinaw News (Jul 29, 2022): Communist terrorist group leader, cohorts neutralized in Sultan Kudarat

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – July 31, 2022

The Commanding Officer of Regional Operations Command (ROC) of the communist terrorist group’s Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) and two of his cohorts were killed in a clash with government troops in Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat on Saturday Morning, July 30, 2022.

Reports from the ground stated that operating troops of the 57th Infantry Battalion were conducting pursuit operations when they encountered more or less seven communist terrorist group members in Barangay Baluan, same municipality. Firefight ensued, after which the enemy scampered in different directions. Troops continuously pursued the fleeing enemies.

Soldiers from the different army units in the area conducted blocking operations which resulted in series of encounters with the fleeing CTG personalities. While scouring the encounter site, troops of the 37IB recovered one M16A1 rifle with short magazine loaded with 15 live ammunition, and one Garand rifle. Also, while conducting search and destroy operations, combined elements of the 57IB and 63rd Division Reconnaissance Company recovered three enemy cadavers.

The slain terrorists were identified as Ian Dela Rama, a.k.a. Cris, CO of the ROC, FSMR. He was also the former secretary of Front 4A of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCRMC). He has a standing Warrant of Arrest for Arson. The two others were identified as Valerio Lacumbo, a.k.a. Bitoy/Bobit/Delfin of the Ordnance Division of FSMR; and Wilmer Dela Cruz, a.k.a. Dodong/Grab, a member of the Dabu-Dabu Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee Daguma, FSMR. Lacumbo has a standing Warrant of Arrest for Robbery with Violence Against or Intimidation of Person.

Troops also recovered other war materials including one M16A1 rifle, two cal. 45 pistols, one hand grenade, eleven keypad cellphones, and enemy personal belongings.

Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr., Commander of Western Mindanao Command said military troops will continue to conduct focused military operations and maximize intelligence monitoring to disallow the menaces of society to thrive in the peaceful communities. He also commended the troops for the successful operations that led to the neutralization of three CTG personalities. “Let us continue to work to dismantle all the remaining terrorist groups in our area of operation,” Lt. Gen. Rosario, Jr. added.

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