Kalinaw News: NPA surrenderer leads 4ID troops to an arms cache, 2 high-powered firearms seized

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 28, 2021): NPA surrenderer leads 4ID troops to an arms cache, 2 high-powered firearms seized

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City – An arms cache containing two (2) high powered firearms was discovered after a CPP-NPA Terrorist (CNT) who recently surrendered led the troops of 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division to its location at the hinterland area of Sitio Kaunlaran, Barangay Tagbongabong, Agusan del Norte on November 27, 2021.

Jonel B. Pasco alias Joel/Gong-gong, a former member of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) 21C, Guerilla Front (GF) 21, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Westland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, revealed to the troops the location of an arms cache after his voluntarily surrender last November 26, 2021.

With the said revelation, 4ID’s intelligence unit together with the 65IB under Lt Col Emerson De Vera, Commanding Officer, immediately deployed troops to locate the arms cache that eventually contained 2 M16 Rifles.

According to alias Joel/Gong-gong, he decided to surrender because he already realized that continuing to fight the government is pointless as he believes that their organization, the CPP-NPA-NDF, can never win against the government especially after the devastating blows particularly the major defeats during encounters, surrender or capture of their leaders as well as the death of Ka Oris which dampened their morale drastically.

Major General Romeo S Brawner Jr, Commander of 4ID, congratulated the 901st Brigade under Brigadier General George Banzon together with the intelligence units of 65IB and 4MIB for saving another Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) member and return him to his family safely, and for striving to maintain the peace in their area of responsibility.

He added that the CTG is crumbling after the tragic death of Ka Oris, a top rank and high profile NPA leader.

“There has been a ruckus within the CTG in our AOR. They are anxious of what and where they are headed as they are always on the run to evade government troops. Their morale is low due to the recent surrender of 18 CTG leaders and members who brought along 11 high powered firearms last November 14 and 17. There is mass demoralization due to the apprehension and surrender of its key leaders aggravated by the death of Ka Oris which is a major blow that led the surrenderers to abandon the armed struggle and return to the folds of the law”, MGen Brawner Jr said.

MGen Brawner Jr further stated that since the death of Ka Oris, a total of 47 CTG leaders and members have surrendered to the different units under the 4ID with 17 high-powered and low-powered firearms seized.

Since the assumption of MGen Brawner Jr as the Commander of 4ID last July 5, 2021, a total of 128 CNTs have surrendered, 71 CNTs were either captured or killed during 88 government-initiated encounters.

“The neutralization of the CTG leaders and members is a result of our commitment in implementing various projects and program that will uplift the lives of our people. The people actively helped us in tracking the CTG because they have seen that their Army, PNP and government agencies are united and serious in helping them and in securing their communities”, MGen Brawner Jr explained.

“Let’s stop the fighting. I implore the CTG to abandon the senseless violence. Let’s give the people the peace and the development they have wanted for the longest time. Our offer of peace still stands and your 4ID is always open for those who want to choose the path of peace and return to their families safely. We urge them to avail of the E-CLIP, rest assured that the government will take care of them and will assist them towards better opportunities together with their loved ones”, MGen Brawner Jr said.

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