EastMincom in its report said the troops also captured 172 firearms and 28 anti- personnel mines (APM) from January to the 2nd week of May this year.
Recently, combined troops of 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) and 36IB, under the operational control of Joint Task Force (JTF) Diamond's 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde), neutralized three communist terrorist group (CTG) personalities and seized seven high-powered firearms in an encounter at Sitio Katarugan, Brgy. Lobo, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on May 11.
Out of three, two killed NPAs were identified as Alberto Castañeda alias Bern/JD, Commanding Officer of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16C, Guerilla Front 16 (SYP16C, GF16) and Eric Mahinay Colon alias Neo, Political Guide of Squad 1, SDG16, GF16, NEMRC.
They are all under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Government troops also seized three AK47 rifles, an Ultimax 100 Light Machine Gun, an AR18 rifle, an M16 rifle, an R4 rifle, an improvised explosive device (IED) with detonator, 13 backpacks with assorted personal belongings, communication and electronic devices, a medical kit, and other war materiel after the skirmish.
Lieutenant General Almerol lauded the troops of JTF Diamond for their efforts and dedication to pursue the goal of EastMinCom to eradicate the CTG this year with the help of local government units and support of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“The recent accomplishment is a testament to our continuous efforts to finish the dwindling CTG units in our joint operational area and to attain just lasting peace in Eastern Mindanao," he said.
Almerol, likewise, warned the remaining active CTG members to reconsider their refusal to yield, should they wish to avoid the fate of their dead comrades "who continued to terrorize the peace-loving citizens.
Photos from EastMinCom