Kalinaw News: EastMinCom Seizes Firearms thru Combat Ops in Malapatan Town

Posted to Kalinaw News (Dec 2, 2021): EastMinCom Seizes Firearms thru Combat Ops in Malapatan Town



NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) troops, through the continued supervision of Commander LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, seized another set of firearms through combat operations launched against splinters of a disbanded Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) at Sitio Bayabas, Barangay Tuyan, Malapatan, Sarangani Province on November 28 and 29.

Troops of EastMinCom’s 10th Infantry Division, 1002nd Brigade, 73rd Infantry Battalion (73rd IB), 10th K9 Team and Intelligence units seized two firearms composed of an M653 rifle along with seven magazine with ammunitions and 9mm pistol with 19 rounds of ammunitions, a commercial radio, and documents that are deemed subversive during a series of combat operations launched against an unidentified communist terrorist and the Secretary of the now defunct Guerrilla Front Tala identified as Meridio Sambilad alias Yoyong/Boyaks.

A pursuit operation is currently being launched by the 73rd IB to capture the two communist terrorists who managed to flee during encounter. Troops had also coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the area in conducting checkpoint operations to block their possible escape routes.

LtGen. Almerol said that former members of GF Tala who already yielded to authorities disclosed information regarding the whereabouts of the two fleeing communist terrorists, prompting the troops to go after them.

“As much as possible, we wanted our troops to deal with CTG members and leaders peacefully but they chose a rather rash action by firing against government forces. As soldiers, it is part of our mandated task to contain violent acts for the safety of the rest of the people living in the communities,” LtGen. Almerol said.

“I urge Sambilad and his comrade to surrender peacefully instead of continuing to live a pointless life in hiding. After all, they no longer have somewhere else to go since our troops are already surrounding them. Therefore, surrender now and avail of the benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP),” LtGen. Almerol urged.

EastMinCom continues to conduct a intensified combat operations in response to the bulk of information with intel value that were shared by former rebels to the troops. The EastMinCom Commander said that this accomplishment is part of the ramped-up initiatives against the CTG in order to meet the goal of ending the local communist armed conflict by 2022.

Former rebels who previously surrendered to the troops continue to work closely with the government in pushing for peace and development in communities while at the same time receiving assistance from the government through E-CLIP such as free housing, firearms remuneration, livelihood assistance, and scholarship, among others.

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https://www.kalinawnews.com/eastmincom-seizes-firearms-thru-combat-ops-in-malapatan-town/