Army scores anew in Sorsogon encounter

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 19, 2020): Army scores anew in Sorsogon encounter (By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay) 

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur, Oct. 19 (PIA) - A communist NPA terrorist (CNT) member was killed in a 15-minute gunfight that ensued between the government troops and Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members in Bulan, Sorsogon, Saturday, October 17. Firearms and other propaganda materials were also found at the encounter scene.

In a press statement released by the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) Chief CPT John Paul Belleza, around 11:10AM, elements of 22nd Infantry Battalion (22IB) were conducting security operations when they received a tip from the residents of Brgy.Taromata regarding the presence of an armed group in the area.

The soldiers encountered at least 20 CNTs and were able to kill one of its members. This prompted the enemies to flee towards different directions, leaving on the scene a caliber .45, caliber .38, backpacks and other terroristic propaganda materials.

Though the government troops scored anew, LTC Henrito Managay, 22IB Commanding Officer, reminded his troops not to put their guards down and continue to implement stringent measures against the CTGs in the area to preempt any unlawful acts these terrorists are planning to do.

“MGEN HENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, Commander of Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) commended the troops for their relentless conduct of focused military operations which is very instrumental in sustaining the gains of the Army against the CTG in Sorsogon and recognized the help of concerned citizens for the prompt report,” Belleza stated.

Barely celebrating the good news, an encounter that took place in Oas, Albay momentarily dampened the soldiers’ good feat. At around 3PM of the same day, another armed clash broke out between the troops of 49th Infantry Battalion (49IB), securing the Serbisyo Caravan in Brgy. Mayag and undetermined number of CTGs operating in Brgy. Tobgon, Oas, Albay.

One military personnel was killed and 2 others were wounded when the communist terrorists detonated an anti-personnel mine.

This dastardly act was strongly condemned by JTF Bicolandia, citing the CTG's persistent use of anti-personnel mines is a clear violation of Anti-Terrorism Law as well as the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), RA 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity.

MGen. Robinson underscored that the attack against the troops who were tasked to secure the on-going Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) is an act of terrorism.

MGen. Robinson emphasized that it was CTG's desperate way of retaliating. Since the deployment of 49IB from Mindanao to Albay, the unit was able to gain the support of the communities to the extent that various barangays conducted rallies to publicly condemn the terrorist group and passed resolutions declaring the CTGs as persona non grata.

"Serbisyo Caravan is a multi-service caravan of all instrumentalities of the government and other civil society organizations offering free medical and dental services, census and birth registration, food packs distribution, registration of domesticated animals and distribution of seedlings and information drive about the different programs of national agencies among others,” Robinson stated.

He further explained that the Serbisyo Caravan ensures the efficacy of the Whole-of- Nation Approach under President Rodrigo Duterte's Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70).

“Takot ang CTG sa mga programang ganito dahil hindi na nila magagamit ang mga problemang kinakaharap ng ating mga kababayan para sa kanilang panlilinlang. Hindi totoong nais nila ng pagbabago; ang gusto nila ay manatili ang mga suliranin sa mga komunidad upang patuloy nilang gawing armas ang mga ito para siraan ang gobyerno at kumbinsihin ang mamamayan na umanib sa kanila. Hence, we encourage the public to continue denouncing the act of terrorism and report to us the presence of CTGs in their area so that we can arrest, jail and have these terrorists pay for their crimes," MGen. Robinson added. (LSMacatangay, with reports from CPTJPBelleza, DPAO PA, PIAV/Camarines Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1056408