Encounters Left 9 NPAs Dead, Many Others Wounded

Malaybalay City— The 8th Infantry Battalion under Ltc Maurito L Licudine engaged the New People’s Army under Guerilla Front 6 in a series of encounter that left the communists with 9 combatants dead, and still-to- be determined number of wounded fighters. Government troops suffered two (2) Killed-in-Action and two others wounded.

The encounter happened in the mountainous area of Barangay Banlag, Valencia City, Bukidnon.

8IB Troopers had been scouring the area for the last two days after receiving intelligence reports about the presence of an NPA encampment somewhere in the vicinity of Barangays Banlag and Concepcion in Valencia City.

At around 12:20 in the afternoon of December 15, troops under Lt Oria and 2Lt Nelvis encountered more or less 60 heavily armed NPAs believed to be under the leadership of Abelardo Navarro a.k.a. Canoy/Zorro. After 20 minutes of heavy exchanges of firefight, the NPAs withdrew southward. At 12:35, the withdrawing NPAs clashed with the troops under Lt de la Cruz and 2Lt Gobway. The skirmishes left the NPAs with 5 dead and several others wounded and the recovery of two (2) M16, two (2) Garand and one (1) M14 high powered firearms.

At 4:00 in the afternoon, the withdrawing NPAs engaged the government troops again. The encounter left them with 4 more dead fighters, bringing the total number of dead NPAs to 9 individuals and additional three (3) M16s and one (1) M14 rifles recovered bringing the total number of recovered firearms to 9.

At around 5:30 in the afternoon, same day, another encounter took place. As of this writing, heavy exchanges of fire is still continuing.

Col Nicanor Dolojan, Brigade Commander of the 403rd Peacemaker Brigade, 4ID PA, expressed optimism that the government troops will prevail in the continuing battle even as he also sympathized with the families of all those who died in the encounter. BGen Mario F Chan, 4ID Commander, instructed the troops to pursue the enemy relentlessly to bring a strong message to the CPP-NPA that their armed revolution has no chance of ever achieving victory.

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 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.

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 403^rd 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 403^rd Brigade following Mapano’s arrest.

At the headquarters of the 4^th 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 8^th 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 23^rd 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 403^rd 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 4^th 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 4^th 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, 10^th 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 4^th 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 8^th 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 403^rd 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 4^th 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.