THE SUSTAINED military operations launched by the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) caused more losses to the communist terrorist group (CTG).
This, after government troops neutralized 155 CTG members and captured 172 firearms and 28 anti-personnel mines (APM) from January to the second week of May this year
Eastmincon spokesperson, Lt Col Alex Mindalano, said just recently, the combined troops of the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) and 36IB, under the operational control of Joint Task Force (JTF) Diamond’s 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde), neutralized three CTG personalities and captured seven high-powered firearms in an encounter at Sitio Katarugan, Barangay Lobo, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on May 11.
The military identified the two as Alberto Castañeda alias Bern/JD, commanding officer of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16C, Guerilla Front 16 (SYP16C, GF16), and Eric Mahinay Colon, political guide of a squad under North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
The soldiers also seized three AK47 rifles, a Ultimax 100 Light Machine Gun, an AR18 rifle, an M16 rifle, an R4 rifle, an improvised explosive device (IED) with a detonator, 13 backpacks with assorted personal belongings, communication, and electronic devices, a medical kit, and another war materiel after the skirmish.
Meanwhile, Almerol lauded the troops for their efforts and dedication to pursue the goal of EastMinCom to eradicate the CTG this year with the help of local government units and support of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“The recent accomplishment is a testament to our continuous efforts to finish the dwindling CTG units in our joint operational area and to attain just lasting peace in Eastern Mindanao,” Almerol said.
The EastMinCom Commander likewise warned the remaining active CTG members to reconsider their refusal to yield should they wish to avoid the fate of their dead comrades “who continued to terrorize the peace-loving communities.”
