Marines encounter Communist Terrorists, recover M16 and 4 IEDs in Sultan Kudarat

By Jong D. Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (May 14, 2017) - As forces continue the conduct of military operations over respective areas, soldiers of the Joint Task Force Central under Major General Arnel Delavega encountered undetermined number of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CNN) yesterday morning in Sultan Kudarat Province, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the operating troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 (MBLT2) under the JTF Central were engaged in a gunbattle with NPA rebels in the mountains of SitioLomoton, Brgy. Hinalaan, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat at half past 9AM yesterday (May 13) following reports from populace of the presence of an armed group in the area.

Cpt. Petinglay said that the said exchange of gunfire ensued for 20 minutes, after which the militants withdrew, bringing with them their casualties. MBLT2 personnel delivered accurate mortar fires to the location of the enemy opting the rebels to scamper to different directions.

Clearing operations followed after the fire interdiction which yielded to the recovery of an M16 rifle and four sets of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), she added.

"As of this report, pursuit and blockade are being conducted by our ground troops to thwart the extrication of the communist terrorists (CTs). Aerial and land assets are being utilized to track down the fleeing armed rebels in the immediate vicinity of the encounter site," says Major General Arnel Delavega, the Commander of the Joint Task Force Central. "We are making sure that the fighting will not spill over to nearby areas."

"We believe these CTs are just in the immediate vicinity hiding from our troops, that is why we are urging the people of Kalamansig to report suspicious looking people they happen to meet in their communities or farms," Major General Delavega adds.

Cpt. Petinglay further added that two months ago (March 20), a heavy armed confrontation between the marines and rebels also ensued in the same area that resulted to the death of two (2) CTs. Operating troops encountered about 50 militants led by Tirzo Sakudal, a.k.a Commander Macmac, in Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat. Said CTs according to reports are about to attack nearby communities to get the people's live stocks and to sow terror when their plan was preempted by the marines.

"Western Mindanao Command through the JTF Central will continue to conduct military operations and maximize intelligence monitoring with the assistance of the police, the local government, and the civilians in the province of Sultan Kudarat," says Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

"We will exhaust all means through our JTF Central to disallow these CTs to thrive in the communities and to stop them from continually doing their terroristic activities," LTGen Galvez adds.