29IB Troops Overrun Camp of Guerilla Front 6

          Government troops conducting combat operations in the Municipality of Kitaotao, Bukidnon encountered about 30 fully armed NPAs at vicinity Barangay Kahusayan in Kitaotao, yesterday, 27 October 2009. The firefight started at around 1:55 P.M. and lasted for more than 2 hours. Close Air Support was provided by 2 MG520 attack helicopters from the 20th Attack Squadron, 15th Strike Wing, TOG 11, PAF. The 29IB troops under 1Lt Theodore D Soriano mounted an assault forcing the NPAs to abandon their camp and scamper to different directions.

          Recovered from the camp were volumes of subversive documents, rice, detonating cords, hammocks and other personal belongings. The camp has an area of about 100 square meters with kitchen and makeshift bunkers that could accommodate 30-40 persons.

         29IB Battalion Commander, LtCol Benedict Arevalo said that the overran camp was believed to be occupied by SPP5 of GF 6 under Dumangol Sallusad a.k.a. Jabbar.

          The government troops that figured in the 2 1/2 hours firefight did not suffer any casualty.

         

NPA Liquidates Ex-Army in Agusan del Norte; Torch Cargo Truck in Bukidnon

An ex-army was liquidated by SPARU members of Guerilla Front 16A, NEMRC at his residence in Barangay Baleguian, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte at 6:00 A.M., today, 20 October 2009. The fatality was identified as a certain retired army Sergeant Madrazo, a former member of the 36th Infantry Battalion.

In Bukidnon, for failure to give the extortion demands of the NPA, a cargo truck of  AVERDI Palm Oil Company was torced by about 20 armed NPAs under Efren Taquin a.k.a. Mero of SYP JAGU. The incident happened at kilometer 30, Barangay Kalabugao, Impasug-on, Bukidnon 11:30 A.M., Monday, 19 October 2009.

NPA Arms Cache Yields 20 Landmines and 7 Firearms

Cagayan de Oro City. A team of Army troops from the 8th Infantry Battalion under Ltc Maurito L Licudine discovered an NPA firearms and explosive cache at 5:20 A.M., 17 October 2009. The arms cache, situated at vicinity Barangay Busdi, Malaybalay City, belonged to guerillas from the CPP/NPA North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee’s Guerilla Front 89.

In his report to the 403rd Brigade Commander, Colonel Nicanor Dolojan, LtCol Licudine said that the firearms were discovered separately when the troops overran an enemy encampment at Barangay Busdi in Malaybalay City at around 1:30 A.M.

The team led by 1LT Crisaldo U Uria and 2LT Emerson P Nelvis recovered from the area three (3) M16, one (1) M1 Carbine, one (1) Caliber 22 rifle, and two (2) handguns. Also recovered were 20 improvised anti-personnel land mines and 13 super dyne explosive primers.

Operating troops also recovered 160 meters of time fuse, three pieces of PVC pipes and 37 meters of extension wire (31.25 mm) all used for making pipe bombs

“The recovered land mines are clear indication that the NPAs are using banned items which are prohibited under the laws of land warfare and International Humanitarian Law signed by civilized societies and organizations internationally.” Colonel Dolojan said.

The AFP already got rid of these in its inventory when the Philippines signed the agreement. “The use of landmines was prohibited internationally since it does not select its victims; combatants and non-combatant, young and old alike, anybody becomes a victim.” Dolojan added.

At the Headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division, BGen Mario F Chan, the 4th Infantry Division Commander, said that the essential key to the success of the Army’s Internal Security Operation is the active participation of the Local Government Units and the populace in the locality.

“As shown by this recent accomplishment of 8IB and our past gains in Bukidnon, it is the support of the LGUs and the information provided by the people to our troops that led to successful encounters, discovery of camps and the apprehensions of top CPP/NPA leaders like the arrest of Mapano last August and the neutralization of KOMMID members in the Municipality of Quezon last year” BGen Chan said.

Army Engineers to Start Building Roads in the Andap Complex

As part of the government’s Kalayaan sa Barangay Program, the 52^nd Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army will start the construction of an all-weather road connecting Kilometer 5 of Barangay Diatagon, and Purok 5 of Barangay San Isidro, all of Lianga Municipality, Surigao del Sur.  This project is part of a bigger road improvement program covering Post 1 up to Kilometer 16, Sitio Han-ayan, of Barangay Diatagon.

In line with this, the 36^th Infantry Battalion, 4ID Philippine Army has begun securing the area to prevent the disruption of the project.  The Barangay Council of San Isidro, Municipality of Lianga, has also requested for the establishment of a CAA Detachment in their community for purposes of securing government projects as well as for flushing the NPAs out of their barangay.  

The efforts of the Philippine Army to address the problems of the community people have been criticized by several quarters and have even gone to the point of denouncing the presence of the military research team as an act of MILITARIZATION.  The worst is that the Philippine Army has been accused of harassing the people in defense of so-called mining interests in the Andap complex.

Pressed for answers on this accusation, LTC DENNIS GODFREY GAMMAD (GSC) INF PA, Commanding Officer of the 36^th Infantry Battalion, said that they are not in the Andap Complex to support mining. “With or without mining projects, the Philippine Army will be in the area to secure government projects, and to dismantle the guerilla bases of the CPP-NPA”.

The Andap Complex in Surigao del Sur has been proven by the Philippine Army to be the base of operation of Front Committee 19A of the CPP-NPA. Records of several violent incidents and reports of surveillance missions indicate that the CPP-NPA has been using the Andap Complex as staging ground for their different activities in the province of Surigao and nearby province of Agusan del Sur.

“Today, all the efforts at denouncing the presence of government troops in the Andap Complex is nothing but a lame defense of the guerilla fronts of the CPP-NPA. No explanation is plausible enough than the fact that the Andap Complex is a guerilla base,” LTC GAMMAD concluded.

Withdrawing NPAs Liquidated 1 CAFGU

      Members of New People's Army who were reported to have harassed commuters along the national highway in Lingig, Surigao del Sur last October 6, 2009 liquidated one (1) CAFGU at Km. 23, Road 5 at Barangay Bugak.  The NPAs were withdrawing when they shot the unarmed CAFGU to death.

     The CAFCU, identified as PAQUITO E CORTEZ SS-A002593, is deployed to 12 SDS CAA Company based in Surigao del Sur. 

More Surrenderees from GF 89

Four members of GF 89's Militia ng Bayan surrendered to the Commander of the 8th Infantry Battalion yesterday, October 2, 2009.

Jumar Tilocan @ Andres, 28 years old from sitio Kaungahan, Barangay Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon together with Ronie Guinombay, Rudy Guinombay and Elyong Anci-an all residents of sitio Bandawan, Barangay Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon surrendered to the Peace and Development Team (PDT) of the 8th Infantry Battalion with their firearms composed of 1 caliber 30 M1 Carbine, 1 shotgun and 1 springfield rifle.

From the time Alfredo Mapano, the NPA's NorthCentral Mindanao Regional Committee leader, was arrested, more that 50 regular and militia ng bayan members of Guerrilla Front 89 have surrendered with their firearms. It can be recalled that Mapano, who has 8 warrants of arrest for various cases filed in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur and Misamis Oriental, was arrested by the joint team of PNP and Army last August 1, 2009.

The mass surrender of GF 89 members have significantly reduced the strength and influence of the NPAs in the areas of Cabanglasan and hinter Barangays of Malaybalay City.

Award Rites for Battle Casualties Held at 4ID, PA

Mrs. Angelina Miranda, mother of the late Pfc Tito Miranda, received her checkwoth Php 250,000.00 from Sec. Arturo B. Carillo and BGEN Mario F Chan AFP during the recognition and awarding of financial assistance to battle casualties of theAFP held at 4ID Gymnasium, Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City.

Those who fight and offer their lives for their countrymen deserve not only the honors worthy of their sacrifices but also the support that they and their loved ones need. This is the message behind the awarding and recognition of AFP battle casualties as mandated and pursued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs.

At least six (6) officers, 34 enlisted personnel, and 2 CAFGUs from the different units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Mindanao were given due recognition and awarded with financial assistance and scholarship certificates. Beneficiaries of those soldiers who were killed in action received Php 250,000.00 and Php 100,000.00 respectively. The amount depends on whether the death occured before or after the death benefit was increased by President GMA from 100 to 250 Thousand. Those with major injuries received Php 100,000.00 each, while those with minor injuries received Php 20,000 and Php50,000 each.

The Recognition and Awarding Ceremony was made more symbolic with the presence of Sec. Arturo B. Carillo, the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs, who came to represent President GMA. BGEN MARIO F CHAN AFP, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division, ably assisted Sec. Carillo in the distribution of the financial assistance and certifcates to the beneficiaries.