EastMinCom troops unearth largest arm caches in Caraga Region
BUTUAN CITY -- Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) under the leadership of Lieutenant General (LtGen.) Greg T. Almerol has uncovered the largest arm caches in Caraga Region following the mass surrender of the members of a communist-terrorist groups (CTG) to the troops of 901st Brigade's 30th Infantry Battalion (IB) in August.
It can be recalled that nine members
of the Sentro Degrabidad (SDG) and Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16B
(SYP16B), GF16, NEMRC yielded to the troops of 30IB at Brgy. Mahanub, Gigaquit,
Surigao del Norte on August 12, which led to the recovery of 16 high-powered
firearms.
They were identified as Edelberto D.
Maisog alias Marmar, Grace J. Bacalan alias Nizel, Jessie S. Roxas alias
Jemrex, Alfredo A. Balocloc Jr alias Degard, Lynde T. Bacalan alias Diane,
Christopher G. Libres alias Joreden, Nikki B. Pinao alias Cyrel, Alvin Palen
alias Barry, and Janiza Galupo alias Fox.
Their four other comrades identified
as Panie H. Jubasan alias Alvin, Junas L. Morata alias Bong, Merimi C. Manego alias
Odette, and Lenie B. Mantawiran alias Glay-Glay who respectively surrendered on
August 22 and 25, also revealed two arms caches with 15 high-powered firearms.
The 31 retrieved high-powered
firearms were composed of nine M4 Rifles, eight M16 Rifles, six AK47 Rifles,
three M203 Grenade Launchers, an M14 Rifle, a Galil Rifle, a Caliber .22
Carbine, an R4 Rifle, a Pistol Grand Master, an Improvised Explosive Device,
several assorted magazines, 2,010 rounds of various ammunition, four
Bandoliers, and other war materiel.
In another incident, troops of the
1001st and 701st Brigades under the 10th Infantry Division (ID) uncovered
separately two arm caches within Davao Region on August 25 and 26 after the
revelation of two CTG personalities. Alias Delmar, former Chief Ordnance of
Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) and alias Bukawe, Team Leader Abe
of the Weakened GF18, aided the troops in recovering five M16A1 Rifles, an M60
Machine Gun, an M16 Rifle, and an AK47 Rifle.
A former Militia ng Bayan (MB) member,
identified as alias Labay, who surrendered to the troops of 402nd Brigade's
16IB, also revealed the location of an arm cache at Sitio Mintapod, Brgy.
Hagpa, Impasugong, Bukidnon on August 27. It contained a Caliber .30 M1
Springfield Rifle, 10 hand grenades, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), and
ammunition.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol lauded the
troops of the 4ID and 10ID for their relentless efforts that further weakened
the capability of the CTG in Eastern Mindanao. He is also optimistic that with
the series of surrenders, Caraga Region will be declared
"Insurgency-free" before 2022 ends.
"We are optimistic that GF16 is
at the brink of collapse with the gradual surrender of their leadership. With
our intensified military operations and aid from former rebels, it is only a
matter of time before we declare them dismantled and the rest of Caraga Region
free from insurgency this year," he assured.
The EastMinCom Commander likewise encouraged the remaining CTG members to "surrender and avail the government program through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) to start a new life with your families". (Armed Forces of the Philippines-Eastern Mindanao Command/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
