NPA REBEL KILLED. The three New People’s Army rebels killed during the series of encounters from March 25 to April 20 in the hinterlands of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur. The military also seized several high-powered firearms and ammunition during the skirmishes. (Photo courtesy of 901Bde)
BUTUAN CITY – Six armed confrontations were recorded by the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde) from March 25 to April 20 this year that resulted in heavy losses on the side of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), particularly the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, 901Bde commander, said the series of encounters involved the various units under the brigade, including the 30th Infantry Battalion (IB), 36th IB, and 65th IB.
“The conduct of relentless combat operations aims to target the members of the Communist Terrorist Group, particularly the NEMRC in the hinterlands of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur and to defeat them to free these provinces from their terrorist activities,” Sadural said in a statement on Friday.
On March 25, an encounter in Barangay Bitaugan, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, resulted in the death of an NPA rebel and the recovery of an M-16 rifle.
After a week, another encounter in the same barangay resulted in the recovery of an M-16 rifle, medical paraphernalia, and personal belongings of the rebels.
On April 17, soldiers engaged a group of fleeing NPA rebels in Barangay Kolambugan, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, resulting in the death of a rebel and the seizure of a VZ58 (7.62mm) rifle with magazines and ammunition.
On April 20, another encounter took place in the vicinity of Barangay Kolambugan that resulted in the death of another NPA insurgent and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle.
Sadural was also optimistic on the imminent dismantling of the NEMRC, saying government forces are determined to pursue combat operations in the area. (PNA)
