LOSING FIREPOWER. The Army’s Fourth Infantry Division (4ID) reports the seizure of nine high-powered firearms and four improvised explosives from the New People's Army rebels during the series of armed encounters in the Caraga Region in March this year. Photo shows firearms recovered by government troops after a clash on March 29, 2022 in Barangay San Vicente, Carmen, Surigao del Sur. (Image courtesy of 36IB)
BUTUAN CITY – The series of armed encounters last month has reduced the firepower capabilities of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Caraga Region with the recovery of high-powered firearms, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said.
In a press release Monday evening, the 4ID said four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also recovered by Army troopers during last month's operations.
In an encounter on March 29, troops under the 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB) engaged the rebels in a 10-minute gun battle in Barangay San Vicente, Carmen, Surigao del Sur.
This resulted in the recovery of an M16 rifle, a Carbine rifle, a caliber .22 rifle with scope, a .45 caliber pistol, assorted ammunition, and four IEDs.
A day before that, troops under the Army's 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) also recovered four high-powered firearms concealed by the NPA rebels in the hinterlands of Barangay Ibuan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, following a tip from an NPA surrenderer.
The tipster, a female NPA fighter, was wounded during the series of encounters with the 23IB troopers on February 4 and March 16 this year in Barangay Tungao, Butuan City.
Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, 4ID commander, vowed the Army will continue its focused military operations in Caraga Region against the communist insurgents.
“We will not hesitate to use all available AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) assets, if necessary, to address every emerging CTG (Communist Terrorist Group) threat in the area of responsibility,” Mamawag said in a statement.
Mamawag also urged the remaining NPA rebels in Caraga Region to return to their families and rebuild their lives under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government.
The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)
