AFP: PRESS RELEASE | Government forces recover four explosives in Cotabato City bus terminal

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Facebook Page (May 25, 2023): PRESS RELEASE | Government forces recover four explosives in Cotabato City bus terminal

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – May 26, 2023

Combined elements from the AFP and PNP recovered four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two cellular phones at Husky Bus Terminal, Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City, early morning Thursday, May 25, 2023.

Joint Task Force Central Commander, Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera said that the staff and security guard of the bus terminal heard a single fire allegedly from a pistol of an unknown caliber that caught their attention. The security guard proceeded to the gate and discovered a suspicious item. They immediately requested assistance from the nearest detachment, the Esteros Detachment of the 1404th Regional Mobile Force Battalion. Police forces then coordinated with the military’s Marine Battalion Landing Team 5, and the combined troops immediately responded to the report and cordoned the area.

 
Initial investigation revealed that the IEDs were encased in a box. The perpetrator and motive of the incident are yet to be determined. The was no monitored casualty though one of the IEDs was defused before it was recovered.

 
Personnel from Cotabato City Police Office – Explosive Ordnance Disposal K9 unit facilitated the immediate recovery and disposal of the IEDs.

 
Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, commended the troops for immediately responding to the area, implementing pre-emptive measures, and averting a major tragedy. He added that the investigation of the incident is underway.

 
(Photos and story by: @Western Mindanao Command, AFP)

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AFP: RELEASE | Loose firearms sa Maguindano del Sur patuloy na nilalansag

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Facebook Page (May 25, 2023): PRESS RELEASE | Loose firearms sa Maguindano del Sur patuloy na nilalansag (Loose firearms in Maguindano del Sur are being found continuously)

CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao del Norte – Resulta ng mas pinalakas na kampanya ng pamahalaan laban sa paglaganap ng loose firearms, pitong indibidwal ang boluntaryong nag-turnover ng iba't-ibang armas mula sa mga barangay ng Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao del Sur nitong Myerkules ng umaga (Mayo 24, 2023).

Sa tulong ng 2Mech Bn na pinamumunuan ni Lt. Col. Tristram Tolentino nai-turnover ang mga baril na kinabibilangan ng tatlong (3) Cal.30 M1 Rifle, isang (1) M14 Rifle, isang (1) Uzi 9mm, dalawang (2) 12 Gauge Shotgun at isang (1) M16 Rifle mula sa mga Barangay ng Brar, Mapayag, Adaon, Midtimbang, Tulunan, Nunangan at Tugal.

Ayon kay Brigadier General Oriel Pangcog, 601Bde Commander, pinangunahan ni Datu Anggal Midtimbang Mayor Mary Joy Estephanie Midtimbang ang “Balik-Baril” Program na isinagawa sa Municipal Covered Court sa Barangay Adaon sa nasabing bayan kasama ang kasundaluhan at kapulisan Datu Anggal Midtimbang Municipal Police Station.

“Patuloy nating pinaaalahanan ang mga kababayan nating may armas na siguraduhing may kaukulang dokumento ito para hindi humantong sa pagkakakulong at kung may “unregistered firearms” naman ay maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa pinakamalapit na himpilan ng pulisya kung nais nila itong isuko”, ayon kay Brig. Gen. Pangcog.

Pinuri naman ni Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, Commander ng 6ID at JTF Central ang 2Mech Bn at 601Bde sa kanilang pagsisikap na tuldukan ang pagkalat ng loose firearms.

"Ang pagsuko ng mga gamit pandigma na walang kaukulang dokumento ay katumbas ng mas mapayapang pamumuhay at pagtakwil ng mga ito sa karahasan. Tinitiyak kong tuloy-tuloy ang gagawin nating paglalansag ng mga loose firearms para sa mas maging mapayapa ang bahaging ito ng Mindanao," wika pa ni Maj. Gen. Rillera.///

(Story and photos by: 6ID, PA)

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TRANSLATION: 

PRESS RELEASE | Loose firearms in Maguindano del Sur are being found continuously

CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao del Norte – As a result of the government's intensified campaign against the spread of loose firearms, seven individuals voluntarily turned over different weapons from the barangays of Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindano del Sur this Wednesday morning (May 24, 2023).

With the assistance of 2Mech Bn headed by Lt. Col. Tristram Tolentino turnover guns which include three (3) Cal.30 M1 Rifle, one (1) M14 Rifle, one (2) Uzi 9mm, two (2) 12 Gauge Shotgun and one (1) M16 Rifle from Barangays of Brar, Mapayag, Adaon, Midweigh, Help, Lead and Defeat.

According to Brigadier General Oriel Pangcog, 601Bde Commander, Datu Anggal Midtimbang Mayor Mary Joy Estephanie Midtimbang led the “Balik-Baril” Program conducted at the Municipal Covered Court in Barangay Adaon in the said town with the military and police of Datu Anggal midtimbang Municipal Police Station.

“We continue to remind our armed compatriots to make sure they have the proper documentation so that they don’t lead to incarceration and that if there are “unregistered firearms” they may contact the nearest police station if they wish to surrender them,” Brig. Gen. It's a match.

Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, Commander of 6ID and JTF Central praised 2Mech Bn and 601Bde for their efforts to stop the spread of loose firearms.

"Surrendering weapons of war without proper documentation equals a more peaceful life and refusal of them to violence." I assure you that we will continuously do the release of loose firearms to make this part of Mindanao more peaceful," Maj. Gen. Rillera said. ///

(Story and photos by: 6ID, PA)

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AFP: 21 Terrorists Surrender to Gov’t Troops in 5 Days

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Facebook Page (May 26, 2023): 21 Terrorists Surrender to Gov’t Troops in 5 Days

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City—Various ground units of the AFP reported the surrender of twelve members of the communist terrorist group and nine members of a local terrorist group with 23 firearms and several other war materials in five days.

 
On May 21, a certain Darwin Requina surrendered to the 66th Infantry Battalion in Davao Oriental with four firearms and four anti-personnel mines (APM), while a certain Pina Ahim Asil surrendered with one firearm to the 12th Special Forces Battalion in South Cotabato.

 
On the same day, the 81st Infantry Battalion in Camarines Sur facilitated the surrender of CTG members Zorilda Iglip and Rolly Macayan, who brought three firearms and 375 pieces of ammunition. Likewise, the 22nd Infantry Battalion received certain CTG members Melanie Payra and Rolly Garcia, who surrendered with three firearms and a hand grenade in Bulan, Sorsogon.

On May 23, three CTG members, namely Nelson Odayao, Ruel Montillano, and Lea Carilla, surrendered with three firearms to the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Buenavista, Agusan Del Norte. On the same day, eight members of the Abu Sayyaf Group surrendered to the joint elements of 101st Infantry Battalion and 21st Infantry Battalion in Luuk, Sulu. They brought with them seven firearms.

 
On May 24, the 30th Infantry Battalion and 36th Infantry Battalion facilitated the surrender of two communist terrorists, Nicloas Mabanta Francisco Jr. and Angel Engayas Tejero in Lianga, Surigao Del Sur. In Davao City, certain Renante Olen Buyo surrendered with one firearm to the 27th Infantry Battalion.

 
Lastly, on May 25, Ahmad Mawali of the Abu Sayyaf Group surrendered one M14 rifle, one magazine, and 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to the Joint Task Force Zamboanga in Malagutay, Zamboanga City.

 
The surrender of said individuals and their weapons further erodes their groups’ capability to conduct atrocities against government forces and civilians. It also comes as a result of the AFP’s successful implementation of the whole-of-nation approach that seeks to end armed violence in the country through the convergence of civic and military efforts to bring development in conflict-affected areas.///

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