THE NEW People’s Army (NPA) operating in Caraga and Northern Mindanao suffered a setback as the 4th Infantry Division continued to hunt the remaining members after the death of a rebel and the surrender of six others recently.
4ID spokesperson Major Francisco Garello Jr. said the soldiers also were able to seize ten high-powered firearms in a series of clashes.
On Monday, Sept. 11, troops of the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade, conducted focused military operations in Barangay Maticdum, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, resulting in the death of Dexter Maca, a member of Platoon 1 of the weakened Guerilla Front 30 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Troops also recovered the slain rebel’s Bushmaster rifle.
On the same day, a clash transpired between troops of the 88th Infantry Battalion and more or less ten Sub Regional Sentro De Gravidad Peddler, Sub Regional Committee-2 (SRC-2) members at Sitio Miaray, Barangay Mandahican, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.
The encounter resulted in the capture of one AK47 rifle, one M1 Garand rifle, and assorted medical supplies.
Meanwhile, six Sandatahang Yunit Pamproganda 21C (SYP21C) members of the weakened Guerrilla Front 21 under the Sub-Regional Committee West Land surrendered to the combined troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion and the Cabadbaran City Police Station at P4, Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, also on Sept. 11.
They brought with them one AK47 rifle, two AR15 rifles, one M4 Carbine rifle, and one M14 rifle.
It can be recalled that on Sept. 5, 36th Infantry Battalion soldiers clashed with eight CNTs at Sitio Bakakaan, Barangay Bagyang, SanMiguel, Surigao del Sur, resulting in the seizure of one M16 rifle, one M14 rifle, war materiel, assorted food supplies, and personal belongings.
In a statement, Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, commander of the 4ID, said that they would intensify combat and intelligence operations to track the remaining CTG members.
He again underscored the support of the local communities in providing significant information on the location of the CNTs. He also warned the remaining CTG members that they “must surrender or be hunted down.”
