WAR MATERIEL. Central Command Chief, Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, inspects the war materiel confiscated by troops of the 11th Infantry (Lapu-Lapu) Battalion who engaged 13 members of the New People's Army (NPA) in a firefight in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Thursday (June 18, 2020). Ancan commended the soldiers and personnel of the Philippine National Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion-7 (RMFB-7) and Mabinay Police Station for the successful operation which led to the killing of five communist NPA terrorists and confiscation of war materiel. (Photo courtesy of Centcom PIO)
CEBU CITY – The top military official in the Visayas on Friday lauded the bravery of 11th Infantry (Lapu-Lapu) Battalion soldiers for their successful operation against suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army in Sitio Talingting, Barangay Luyang, Mabinay town of Negros Oriental on Thursday, where five of the rebels were killed.
"I congratulate the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army for protecting the community of Negros Oriental from Communist-NPA Terrorists' atrocities and harassment,” said Central Command chief, Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, in a statement.
The 11th IB of the 302nd Infantry (Achiever) Brigade based in Negros Oriental is under the 3rd ID in Jamindan, Capiz.
Lt. Col. Ramir Redosendo, commander of the 11th IB, said they received reports from residents of the upland village of Luyang in Mabinay town about the presence of armed men in the area.
The soldiers, along with elements of the Philippine National Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion-7 (RMFB-7) and Mabinay Police Station, went to the area to check the report. They engaged the rebels in a 10-minute gunfight.
The NPA rebels scampered to different directions, leaving the bodies of five comrades along with the war materiel.
The government troopers confiscated three M-16 rifles, one AK-47 rifle, one .45-caliber pistol, four rifle grenades, one improvised explosive device (IED) used as anti-personnel mine, eight M16 magazines, one .45 pistol magazine, ammunition, two commercial radio handsets, three cellphones, five backpacks, four bandoliers, two CPP-NPA flags, personal belongings and subversive documents.
“The same accolade also goes to the PNP-RMFB7 and Mabinay PNP for their participation to this feat. To our partners for peace through the Negros Oriental TF-ELCAC (Task Force-End Local Communist Armed Conflict), let us continue working together to achieve a genuine peace that would pave the way for socio-economic development in Negros," Ancan said.
He warned the remaining members of the CPP-NPA in Negros Island that “justice will always find you”.
He described the encounter as a “very unfortunate incident” which should be viewed by the insurgents who are terrorizing the people in Negros to go back to the fold of the law.
“I do not want you to suffer the same fate. Lay down your arms and live peacefully with your families and love ones before it’s too late,” Ancan said, addressing the rebels.
Col. Noel Baluyan, chief of the 302nd Brigade, said “the fact that the civilian populace in the areas themselves fed the information on the presence of these CTGs (communist terrorist groups) is an indicator the people are already fed up, sick and tired of their schemes.”
“This is certainly a big blow on the part of the CTGs. They have lost their comrades and high-powered firearms,” Baluyan said. (PNA)
