War is not the reason why
the army is important; peace is!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Surrender of GF 89 members

Today, 30 September 2009, two (2) members/medics of squad 1, SPP1 of Guerrilla Front 89, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee voluntarily surrendered to the Commander of 8th Infantry Battalion, LtCol Maurito Licudine at the 8IB Tactical Command Post in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon. The surrenderees were identified as Melit Tilucan alyas Jenevy, 30 years old and Angga Laindaw alyas Joylyn, 20 years old. Both came from Sitio Kandiis, Barangay San Luis, Agusan del Sur.

Surrendered Firearms: two (2) caliber 357 pistols with live ammunitions.

It can be recalled that sometime last week of June 2009, a certain Ruben Tilucan, squad leader of SPP1 surrendered to 8IB commander and alleges that his wife, also a member of SPP1 was raped by their platoon leader @ Sino.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

NPAs in Northern Mindanao: Diminishing Capacity

Below are press releases enumerating recent gains in the fight to defend the people and the democratic institutions against those who would rather see this country in ruins. The CPP-NPA in Northern Mindanao have been significantly weakened following the series of surrenders and combat losses. With these gains, we can only hope that their capacity to sow terror in the communities will have been reduced to an inconsequential level.



24 Bukidnon Rebels Surrender; Yields 23 Assorted Firearms


Cagayan de Oro City. Twenty Four (24) members and armed militias of the NPA rebel’s front 89 in Bukidnon surrendered to Colonel Nicanor Dolojan, the 403rd Brigade Commander based in Malaybalay City. The rebels brought with them 23 assorted firearms composed of 2 M16, 5 M1 Carbine, 2 M1 Garrand rifles and 14 other assorted firearms. The surrenderees led by Roger Guinombay came from Sitio Kaungahan, Barangay Kanangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnoon. They vowed never to support the NPAs and together with their families they expressed their eagerness to avail of the Government’s Social Integration Program where all qualified rebel returnees will receive at least Php 70,000.00 for those that surrendered without firearms to as much as Php 120,000.00 for those that surrendered high-powered firearms.

According to Col Dolojan, the 24 rebel returnees is by far the most number that decided to lay down their arms following the August 1 arrest of the NPA’s North-Central Mindanao Regional head, Mr. Alfredo Mapano a.k.a Paris who is facing 8 criminal cases filed before the different courts of Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnoon.

Before today’s surrender of 24 rebels, a total of 16 already surrendered to the different units of 403rd Brigade following Mapano’s arrest.

At the headquarters of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, BGen Mario F Chan, the 4ID Commander said that the surrender “in mass” of the rebels under the NPA’s GF 89 and the previous surrender of 16 rebels also belonging to GF 89 is already a clear indication that the successful arrest of their leader triggered the surrender of GF 89 members and militias.

“We hope that this will continue so that by the end of 2009, the local terrorist’s Guerrilla Front 89 will be cleared.” Chan said.

“The constant presence of Community Development Teams of the 8th Infantry Battalion in the different barangays of Cabanglasan is another factor that helped convince the people to denounce the NPAs and embrace the government’s peace and development initiatives” he added.


13 NPA Rebels Surrender in Bukidnon


Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City. Thirteen armed NPA rebels surrendered to the 23rd Infantry Battalion Commander, LtCol Cresente Maligmat at 6:45 Wednesday morning, 16 September 2009 in Managok, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The 13 surrenderees brought with them two carbines, two 357 and two caliber 38 revolvers, three caliber 22 long barrel rifles, two shotguns, one 9mm Ingram and two hand grenades.

In his report to 4ID Commander BGen Mario F Chan, Colonel Nick Dolojan, the 403rd Brigade Commander, said that the surrenderees are the NPA’s armed militias in Barangay Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.It can be recalled that sometime late June this year, the platoon leader of NCMRC’s Guerilla Front 89, an Alyas Sino, was accused by Rebel Returnee Ruben Tilucan of raping his wife who was also a regular member of GF 89. Disgruntled by GF89 leadership’s exoneration of @Sino from rape, the couple decided to surrender bringing one M16 rifle. Since that exposé, it was observed that NPA regulars and armed militias in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon started to send surrender feelers to authorities.

“The exodus of surrender further gained momentum when Peace and Development Teams of 8IB were deployed in the hinter barangays of Malaybalay City and the Municipality of Cabanglasan and when the NCMRC leader Alfredo Mapano was arrested in this city last August 1, 2009.” BGen Chan said.

Mapano is facing a total of 8 criminal charges before the courts in Bukidnon, Misamis Orienta, Cagayan de Oro City and Agusan del Sur is presently detained at the Cagayan de Oro Police Office.

Since Mapano’s capture, more than 50 armed NPA Regulars and Militias from Guerilla Front 89 have already surrendered with their assorted high powered firearms.

It can be recalled that last August 18, 2009, twenty-four (24) NPA regulars and militias from the Municipality of Cabanglasan already surrendered to the military bringing 9 high-powered and 14 low-powered firearms.


Regional Terrorist Leader of North Central Mindanao Captured While on “Vacation”


Cagayan de Oro City. The Regional Leader of the Local Terrorist Group in North Central Mindanao was captured by combined elements of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police in Region 10 while with his wife in one of the known hotels of Cagayan de Oro City. Under the North Central Mindanao are the Local Terrorist areas 88, and 4A in Agusan, Local Terrorist Areas 89 and 6 in Bukidnon and the remnants of 4B in Misamis Oriental.

According to 4th Infantry Division Commander, BGen Mario F Chan, Regional Terrorist Leader Alfredo Mapano a.k.a. Paris was captured Saturday night, 1 August 2009, by the joint Army and PNP team by virtue of eight (8) warrants of arrests issued by the different trial courts in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur..

Served by authorities to the suspect were six (6) warrants of arrests with no bail bond recommended under Criminal Cases Numbers 2003-955 for Robbery with Homicide issued by the Regional Trial Court of Misamis Oriental, 10th Judicial Region, Cagayan de Oro City; 2252 for Robbery with Double Homicide and Damage to Properties issued by RTC Branch 7, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; 4603 for Double Murder with Frustrated Murder issued by RTC Branch 6, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; 2006-3388 for Robbery with Homicide issued by RTC Branch 43, Gingoog City; 2003-955 for Robbery with Homicide issued by RTC Branch 18, Cagayan de Oro City; and Criminal Case Number 2846 for Murder issued by the Municipal Trial Court, Prosperided, Agusan del Sur.

Aside from the six non-bailable warrants of arrests, Alfredo Mapano is also facing two arrest warrants under Criminal Case Number 2006-3392 for Frustrated Murder issued by RTC 43, Gingoog City with recommended bail bond of Php 200,000.00 and Criminal Case number 15942-06 for Robbery issued by RTC Branch 8, Malaybalay City with recommended bail bond of Php 40,000.00.

In their joint statement, 4ID Commander, BGen Mario F Chan and Police Regional Office 10 Director, C/Supt Danilo Empedrad lauded the Army and PNP personnel involved in the operation. They also attributed the success of the operation to the various sectors of Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro (LGUs and Civilians) whose help and invaluable information led authorities to the exact location of Terrorist Leader Alfredo Mapano and enabled authorities to serve the arrest warrants.


Capture of Top NPA Leader of NCMR Led to More Surrender


Cagayan de Oro City. Since the capture of Alfredo Mapano a.k.a. Paris, top NPA leader of North Central Mindanao Regional Area by the elements of the 4th Infantry Division and the PNP-R10 last August 1, 2009 in Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, more and more rebels are now returning to the folds of the government.

Last Saturday, August 1, 2009, at 11:30 P.M. and just two hours after the capture of Alfredo Mapano, NPA member Lanie D. Paldon a.k.a Juvy together with his wife Cyline Paldon a.k.a. Cyline surrendered to LtCol Maurito Licudine, the Commander 8th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Caburacanan, Malaybalaay City. The couple who belonged to the Local Terrorist Area 89 (formerly FC 89) brought with them one UZI 9mm automatic weapon with ammunition and a caliber 38 revolver with six rounds of ammunitions. The following day at 7:30 A.M. Ronie Aristoteles a.k.a. Bordz/Dodong another member of the Local Terrorist Area 89 surrendered to LtCol Licudine with his caliber 38 ARMSCOR revolver.

This morning at around 9:30 A.M. Dardy L. Lagunday a.k.a. Gunas, member of Sentro De Gravidad (SDG) Dario of the LTA 89, sought the assistance of the City Mayor of Malaybalay and surrendered to Commander 403rd Brigade, Colonel Nicanor Dolojan.

It can be recalled that the series of debacles suffered by the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Area started as early as June 2008 when 4ID troops successfully overran their regional headquarters in Quezon, Bukidnon. Four of the NCMR staffs were killed including two KOMMID (Komiti Mindanaw) members. Following the raid of the NCMR headquarters, numerous camps were overran including the main camps in the hinter barangays of Gingoog City and Butuan City. The most recent debacle suffered by the NCMR was the foiled March 2009 raid by the NPA’s of the CAFGU’s Zamboanguita Detachment in Barangay Zamboanguita, Malaybalay City where the insurgents belonging to NCMR units suffered 13 confirmed killed and 17 wounded.

Demoralization among its ranks is another reason why more regulars under NCMR abandon the New People’s Army. Most notable to this is the revelation of rebel returnee Tilucan who surrendered last month with his M16 rifle and who’s wife, also an NPA member of the local terrorist area 89 under NCMR, was raped by their platoon leader a.k.a Sino. This incident triggered the surrender of four more members of his unit under NCMR’s LTA 89.

“The capture of their regional leader will fuel further demoralization in their ranks and 4th ID is more than willing to embrace them back to the folds of the law” BGen Marion Chan, Commander 4ID, said.

“Our mission is geared towards winning them all back and we urged them to come to us in peace so together we can develop a peaceful Northern Mindanao” Chan added.