Posted to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Mar 24, 2022): Fleeing NPA terrorists abandon dead comrade, several firearms seized in separate ops
NFSA, Panacan, Davao City - A slain member of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) was left by his comrades while several high-powered firearms were also seized by government troops in separate operations after ground forces of the Eastern Mindanao Command, under the supervision of LtGen. Greg T. Almerol launched an intensified focused military operation at an isolated part of Sitio Montenegren, Brgy. San Isidro, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur on March 21.The 10-minute skirmish erupted as troops of the 401st Brigade’s 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB) tracked down the CTG in response to a report from concerned citizens on the presence of around 20 armed individuals who were harassing civilians and conducting extortion activities in the area.
The troops were also able to seize several high-powered firearms composed of two M16 rifles, two AK 47 rifles, an M653 rifle, an M203 grenade launcher, 16 tents, seven backpacks, three commercial radios, a GPS, improvised explosive device (IED) paraphernalia, other war materiel and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
On the same day, three CTG members voluntarily surrendered to the troops of 901st Bde’s 29IB, 65IB, and Chairperson of the City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (CTF-ELCAC) of Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
They were identified as Ian Sabsalon Acita, Rubilyn Gaan Antong, and Taton Egom Egbot (Party husband of Rubilyn).
They also brought along an M14 rifle with two magazines and ammunition, an improvised M203 with ammunition, and a Remington Shotgun with ammunition.
The yielders revealed that fatigue, hunger, and sleep deprivation prompted them to surrender after a series of encounters between government troops. They also said that they decided to surrender for fear of death and struggling to survive in the mountains.
LtGen. Almerol cited that the successive neutralization of CTG members in just a day manifests the impact of the whole-of-nation approach that brought former mass organizations of the CTG back to the government through the National Task Force Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict's developmental efforts.
"The lack of support from their former mass bases deprived the CTG with harbor and supplies, which are necessary for them to survive amidst our focused military operations. They can now be easily tracked down and engaged by the troops through the help of communities," he said.
The EastMinCom Commander also extended his condolences to the bereaved family of the slain CTG member, whom he said was only "a victim of deception and wrong ideology," and called out the remaining terrorists to yield.
"To those who are still in the communist terrorist movement, think about the bright future of your family if you will heed our offer to abandon the armed struggle. Do not sacrifice your lives for a useless ideology. Lay down your arms and avail the government’s services through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) before it’s too late," LtGen. Almerol said.###
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