The joint Task Force (JTF) Diamond troops under 4th Infantry Battalion of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) launched a relentless offensive following reports from concerned citizens about the presence of armed individuals in the area.
In a report from the 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde), combined troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) and 30IB encountered the combined elements of the NOA’s Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 21C, Guerilla Front 21 (SYP21C, GF21) and Platoon Dao, Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad (SRSDG) Westland, both under the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Westland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
The cadaver of these NPA rebels including a male and two females are yet to be identified.
The army troopers also confiscated five AK47 rifles, four AR18 rifles, three M4 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, an M16 rifle, and some documents.
EastMinCom has already logged 201 neutralized combatants, 227 seized and surrendered firearms, and 34 .seized anti-personnel mines from January to June this year.
EastMinCom commander Lieutenant General Greg Almerol commended the cooperation of civilians and the swift action of JTF Diamond troops which resulted in the successful operations.
Almerol believes that communist terrorist group’s (CTG) recent defeat will aggravate the demoralization of its forces in the Caraga Region.
"The series of defeats of the CTG in Eastern Mindanao, especially in Caraga Region, proved that the support from their top-to-bottom leadership, including their former mass bases, is already absent,” he said.
Almerol urged those remaining members of the group to surrender or face the consequences of their anti-people behaviour at the hands of the government troops.
Photos from EastMinCom