Major General Ernesto Torres Jr. , the commander for the 10th ID said the troops remains prepared all year long for any possible plots by the terrorist group.
Torres urged the public to exercise the culture of security and to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities or individuals in their respective villages.
“I urged the people to cooperate with the troops and to report suspicious activities and individuals within their vicinity,” Torres said.
Meanwhile, Captain Mark Anthony Tito, the spokesman for 10th ID announced the dwindling number of communist terrorist group (CTG) members in its area of responsibility following the series of surrenders in the last quarter of 2021.
He said only five NPA guerilla fronts remain wherein two are set for dismantling.
On December 10, members of 701st Infantry Brigade encountered members of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee at Sitio Kidaraan, Barangay Mascareg, Mabini, Davao de Oro.
Tito said there were no casualty on the terrorist side. However, they recovered several items such as nine long magazines, six cellular phones, two internal hard drives, a handheld radio, binoculars, food supplies, hammock, poncho, sim cards, flash drive, medical kits, and subversive documents.
He said the military is ready to assist surrendering rebels this yuletide season with government aid from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), and other programs by the national and local government units.
Torres, earlier vows to continue the intensive military operations to finally eliminate the remnants of the CTG disrupting peace and development in the whole Southern Mindanao.
“As we near our goal in clearing our area of responsibility here in Southern Mindanao, our troops will aggressively pursue peace spoilers to make way for more insurgency-free communities,” Torres said.
“We urge our fellow Filipino brothers and sisters who are still in the CTG to lay down their arms....and may this yuletide season become the start of lasting peace in our region,” Torres further said.
Photo: 10th ID