CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The week-long operations by various units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) across the country have resulted to the neutralization of 26 Communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) including 46 of their supporters, five BIFF members, and 22 Abu Sayyaf members.
The AFP also recorded the surrender and seizure of 66 high-powered firearms, four anti-personnel mines, and various explosives and ammunition from March 1 to 9.
On March 1, four NPAs were killed in separate encounters with the 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company and 94IB in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. Captured from the NPAs were two M16 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, two AK47 rifles, and a hand grenade.
In another operation same day, the Joint Task Force NCR and law enforcement operatives captured an NPA leader using the alias 'Magno' in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. He has multiple arrest warrants and has a P2.8 million bounty on his head.
This was followed by the combat operations of the 7IB against more or less 10 NPAs in Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat on March 2, which resulted in three NPAs killed and the seizure of three M16 rifles, an M653 rifle, and two hand grenades.
Three anti-personnel mines were seized in an operation conducted by 52IB in Oras, Eastern Samar, on March 1 while an arms cache was discovered by the joint elements from 7ID and police operatives in Dinalupihan, Bataan, on March 4.
On March 9, troops from the 50IB encountered around 15 NPAs in Balbalan, Kalinga, which resulted in one killed and the seizure of M653 and M16 rifles.
The AFP also recorded the surrender of seventeen (17) NPA regulars facilitated by various AFP units that include 28IB in Mawab, Davao de Oro; 9IB in Bacon, Sorsogon; 39IB in Makilala, North Cotabato; 66IB in Davao de Oro; 48IB in Lupon, Davao Oriental; 83IB in Tigaon, Camarines Sur; and 43IB in Lope De Vega, Northern Samar. Notably, a ranking NPA leader in Surigao del Sur surrendered to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion yielding nine (9) high powered firearms. This brought to a total of 27 firearms turned over to government forces during the period.
In the same period, the 85IB, in collaboration with local police units and the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in General Luna and Catanauan, Quezon, facilitated the withdrawal of support from the CPP-NPA-NDF of 46 mass base supporters.
For the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF), the AFP was able to neutralize five members, one of which from the BIFF- Karialin Faction who was killed in an encounter with members of the 40th Infantry Battalion in Ampatuan, Maguindanao Del Sur, on March 1.
Meanwhile, through continuous conduct of intelligence operations by 71IB, four BIFF-KF members surrendered in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, turning over an M14 rifle, Garand Rifle, an M79 homemade grenade launcher, two RPG launchers, an anti-personnel mine, unexploded ordnance, five hand grenades, three rifle grenades, and various ammunitions.
From the ASG, 22 members surrendered to the 100IB in Indanan, Sulu. They brought along with them two M16 rifles and eight M1 Garand Rifles.
The AFP continues to observe an upward trend in the surrender of regular members and supporters of terrorist groups in the country. It may be attributed to the non-stop intelligence-based focused military operations partnered with various peace initiatives by civilian stakeholders.
