(File photo)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that five New People's Army (NPA) insurgents have been neutralized by government security forces from March 17 to 22 in various military operations all over the country.
AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor, in a statement Sunday, said 46 assorted firearms were either recovered or captured by military units in the same period.
Baclor said this is part of "ramped-up efforts to end armed violence in various parts of the country."
"The intensified effort against the threat groups was also one of the direct orders of General Andres Centino, the AFP Chief of Staff, as he continues to visit remote military camps all over the country to personally deliver his command guidance and assess the capability, morale, and welfare of the troops," he added.
Three firearms were recovered during focused military operations on March 17 when members of the 38th Infantry Battalion fought around 20 NPAs in Kiamba, Sarangani.
Meanwhile, one NPA member was killed in an encounter with the Special Forces in Talakag, Bukidnon, on March 19. Two firearms were also seized from around 30 communist rebels.
"That same day, an arms cache containing three firearms and over 350 rounds of ammunition was unearthed by members of the 22nd Infantry Battalion with information from a former CNT (Communist NPA Terrorist)," Baclor said.
He also added that a test mission for the Scout Ranger Course Class 219-22 resulted in an encounter with around seven communist NPA terrorists in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar, on March 20.
"It yielded one killed enemy and one gained firearm. Later that day, the same group of CNTs was met by the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion elements that caused the enemies to lose one more firearm, two anti-personnel mines, and assorted ammunition. Unfortunately, one soldier was killed in action in the earlier incident," Baclor said.
Meanwhile, the 2nd Infantry Battalion chased around 12 NPAs away from a school on March 20 in Cawayan, Masbate.
Baclor said the firefight that ensued resulted in the capture of one NPA member and the capture of one firearm. One soldier was also killed during the encounter, he added.
On March 21, joint military and police elements also encountered around five NPA members in Barcelona, Sorsogon and this resulted in the capture of one firearm.
Meanwhile, another NPA rebel surrendered without a firearm to the 84th Infantry Battalion and local police in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, on March 22.
"Also, the 4th Special Forces Battalion, with help from the Lantawan municipal government in Basilan province, facilitated the turnover of 34 assorted loose firearms to the Joint Task Force-Basilan and Basilan provincial officials," Baclor said.
He added that these accomplishments of various AFP units translate to improving the country's security situation, with armed threat groups losing the capability to conduct atrocities against the government and civilians. (PNA)
