CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – Military operations conducted by the different units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from March 10 to 16 resulted in the neutralization of 29 communist terrorist group (CTG) members, seven Abu Sayyaf bandits and seven more Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Three Communist NPA Terrorist (CNTs) were killed in an encounter against joint elements of the 602nd Brigade, 90th Infantry Battalion, 34IB, and police units in Pikit, North Cotabato, on March 11. On the same day, two more were killed while a caliber .45 pistol was seized by operating elements of 6IB and police operatives in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.
One CNT was captured with a Cal .45 pistol and hand grenade after an encounter with 50IB in Balbalan, Kalinga, on March 13.
On March 15, a CNT was killed in an encounter with 98IB in Balbalan, Kalinga, and another was captured by 2ID and police troops in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro. Recovered from them were an M16 rifle, an M653 rifle, and three anti-personnel mines.
The next day, an encounter with members of 3SFBn in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, forced a CTG member to surrender with a 5.56mm R4 Norinco Carbine rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, various ammunition, and war materiel.
Meanwhile, 2IB and police operatives apprehended a CTG bomb expert and a member at Placer, Masbate, on March 10. Seized from them were a caliber .45 pistol, ten improvised hand grenades, and three anti-personnel mines.
Also captured were two top-level CNTs in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, on March 11. Troops from the 29IB and police operatives carried out the arrest warrant and seized 0.45mm caliber Rock Island, .9mm caliber Taurus, illegal drugs, ammunition, and other war materials.
The AFP also recorded CNTs who voluntarily surrendered with various high-powered and low-powered firearms to government forces during the period. The units that facilitated the surrenders were 19IB, 4SRB, 3IB, and police units in Catubig, Northern Samar; 85IB in Lopez, Quezon; 56IB and 89IB in San Fernando, Bukidnon; 32IB in Indanan, Sulu; and 22IB and 903BDe with support of police units in Castilla, Sorsogon.
In Basilan, an ASG member yielded to the 64IB in Sumisip, Basilan on March 12 handing over one cal. 30 M1 Garand rifle and one clip magazine with ammunition. In Sulu, six AGG members yielded to the 32IB in Patikul, Sulu, on March 15. They turned over an M16 Elisco rifle, M1 Garand rifle, M203 grenade launcher, carbine rifle, and M16 rifle.
From the BIFF, three officers and four members of the Karialan Faction returned to the folds of the law on March 15. The 6th Infantry Battalion facilitated the successful surrender in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur. They also surrendered a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, two cal. 50 Sniper rifles, M653 5.56mm rifle, Springfield cal. 30mm rifle and two cal. 30mm Garand rifles.
The AFP's momentum against different threat groups are expected to accelerate as field units intensify their focused-military operations, complimented by peace and development efforts in various parts of the country.(Photos by AFP)
