By
JONG CADION
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PAGADIAN CITY (July 29, 2019) – Two government troops
under the 103rd Infantry (Haribon) Brigade were wounded during the encounter
with at least ten (10) members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) commonly
known as the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Sabala Bantayao, Lumba
Bayabao, Lanao del Sur on Sunday, July 28 at 9:15 in the morning. The said
encounter was a result of a combat operations which was conducted by AFP forces
to hunt down approximately one hundred and eighty (180) CTG members who encroached
in the said town.
2Lt Angel Manglapus, Acting Division Public
Affairs Office Chief disclosed that the members from Guerilla Front 12, which
is under the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) 5, entered the town of Lumba Bayabao to
conduct a basic military training and to elude military operations in Bukidnon.
However,
their foraging and extortion activities affected the locals and this prompted
the latter to report their presence to military authorities stationed in the
said town. Basing on the information the 103rd Infantry Brigade launched an
operation utilizing 49th, 55th, and 82nd Infantry Battalions (IB), and the 15th
Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC).
The
troops patrolled in the reported area until personnel from the 49th IB and the
15th DRC discovered their outpost and engaged with the enemy forces. Two (2)
were slightly hurt on the government’s side while the casualties on the enemy’s
side is yet to be determined.
BGen Romeo S Brawner, the commander of
the 103rd Infantry Brigade stressed that there is no place for the CTG in Lanao
del Sur and that we will exhaust every means available to rid this place of the
enemy’s presence and influence. The provincial government of Lanao del Sur
earlier declared the CTG (NPA) as persona non grata in the province and pledged
their support to the country’s effort to end communist armed conflict.
General
Brawner also iterated that instead of continuing a futile armed struggle where
thousands of innocent citizens are being abused and caught in the crossfire,
the CTG members should consider surrendering and avail the government’s
Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood and Integration Program (E-CLIP) so that they could enjoy living normal lives and
spend quality time with their loved ones.
All
members and supporters may avail of the E-CLIP program including those who were
in the engagement with government troops earlier today. Otherwise they would probably
end up in jail or suffer worse consequences.
The CTG (NPA) is also attempting to
derail the peace process between the MoroIslamic Liberation Front (MILF) and
the Philippine Government in which Lanao del Sur is one of the primary areas in
the said peace process. (With DPAO press release and photos)
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