CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City — Focused military operations of several units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the past week resulted in the neutralization of three (3) NPAs killed and the surrender of eight ( 8 ) others on separate occasions.
Troops from the 103rd Brigade encountered around 15 Communist Terrorists on April 12 in Bubong, Lanao del Sur, resulting in one NPA killed and the seizure of firearms and ammunition from the CTG side.
On the same day, troops of the 46IB encountered a group of terrorists at Brgy Mabini, Basey, Samar, which resulted in the death of 2 NPA members under Bugsok Platoon of Sub-regional Committee SESAME and the recovery of 3 high-powered firearms, magazines, and other war materiel.
Meanwhile, one member of the SRMA 4A, STRPC in San Jose, Antipolo City surrendered to joint elements of 202Bde, 2ID, Phil Army; 300 AISW of the Phil Air Force; and PNP elements from Rizal, Quezon, and Laguna PPO on April 8. The surrenderee also gave up one (1) caliber .45 pistol.
Joint intel operatives of 1SRB and 73IB facilitated another NPA surrender in Davao del Sur on April 10, bringing along one (1) rifle and ammunition. On the same day, troops from 20IB and 3IB also facilitated the surrender of two (2) NPA members in Las Navas, Northern Samar. Both former rebels surrendered a rifle and war materiel.
From April 11-14, four (4) NPAs surrendered to the elements of 38IB, 6ID in Sarangani Province; 52IB, 8ID in Samar; and 10ID in Davao de Oro. They also surrendered two (2) rifles, a caliber .45 pistol, and IED.
An encounter against CTGs by 4ID troops led to the capture of a firearm and ammo in Surigao del Sur last April 13. Meanwhile, troops from 22IB in Sorsogon unearthed an enemy arms cache on April 13 consisting of one (1) cal .38 revolver, one (1) A1-9, various ammunition, IEDs, and other war materiel.
The neutralization of NPAs and the upward trend in the surrender of NPA members is a testament to the effectiveness of the AFP's focused military operations combined with other government peace initiatives./// (Photo by VISCOM and 6ID)
