Rally the People to Defend Democracy, Sustain the momentum of the campaign to end the insurgency!

The enemies of democracy have proudly proclaimed that they will achieve strategic stalemate within the next 5 years. The claim is no less than a bluff. The triumphant mood of the CPPs 41st anniversary statement is a farce.

The accomplishments of the 4th Infantry (DIAMOND) Division of the Philippine Army for the year 2009 speak of tremendous setbacks and defeat on the part of the CPP-NPA-NDF. Over a 12-month period, the operations of the 4ID troopers have led to the following results:

• 45 camps were overrun
• Three(3) top leaders of the CPP were captured
• 241 NPAs and Milisya ng Bayan surrendered to government authorities
• 107 NPAs were killed in action
• 53 NPAs had been wounded
• 10 NPAs were captured
• 282 firearms were recovered consisting of 129 high-powered and 159 low-powered firearms

These figures speak only of one thing: the CPPs capacity is dwindling and diminishing. The CPPs armed struggle is on its way to the graveyard of oblivion as it continues to feed into the violent revolution the lives of young men and women whom it uses as pawns in its war for political and economic power.

But even as the 4th Infantry Division remains confident that it will be able to bring the insurgency to its demise within the coming months, the people should not let their guards down. The vigilance should continue without letup. The level of cooperation and collaboration between local institutions, local organizations, government line agencies, private sector, and the government troops should be strengthened so that more gains can be accomplished in the coming months.

It was the people’s support to the internal security campaign that made possible the success and accomplishments of the 4th Infantry Division. It will still be their continued cooperation and collaboration that will bring more gains for the campaign, and victory for democracy.

As the year 2010 begins, it is but proper to raise the call:

Rally the people to defend democracy!
Sustain the momentum of the campaign to end the insurgency!

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.

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.

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.