Major Francisco Garello Jr., the spokesman of 4th ID said the troops of the 1st Special Forces Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Roger Anthony E Nuylan Jr. confiscated three M16 rifles, magazines, and ammunitions, backpacks, medical kits, and assorted personal belongings. This came after a 25-minute firefight against an estimated 30 fully armed combined elements of Platun Ipad and Platun Huawei of Sub-Regional Committee 5 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee at Sitio Cambangon, Barangay Lilingayon, Valencia City, Bukidnon on Sunday, April 30.
“We have been tracking the same terrorist group we encountered last April 12 in Bubong, Lanao del Sur. They continue evading our troops due to exhaustion with limited ammunition and food supplies. But we will pursue them, we will not give them breathing space until they realize the futility in fighting the government and that the only option left for them is to surrender voluntarily,” Nuylan said.
On May 2, troops of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade encountered more or less 10 NPA rebels believed to be members of the weakened Guerilla Front 30 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) which resulted in the confiscation of an AK-47 Rifle, Hand Grenade and assorted personal belongings and supplies in Brgy. Maitum, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.
The troops were responding to persistent reports of concerned civilians regarding the presence of the CTGs roaming around in the said barangay extorting food supplies and conducting teach-ins for recruitment.
Garello in his report said various military operations were launched in past weeks to hunt down remnants of the communist terrorist group (CTG) as 4ID continues to step up pressure against them to isolate the group from the civilian communities and entice more surrenderers.
4ID Commander, Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, emphasizes that his troops will use all available resources and the necessary force to quell the remaining terrorists.
Cuerpo vows to be relentless in combat and non-combat operations to finally win the peace for the safety and well-being of the people.
Photos from 4th ID