PHILIPPINE Army announced that pursuit of remaining Communist Terrorist Group (CTGs) has become easier due to the assistance of former rebels and the community, while the town of Palanan, Isabela is now free from the hands of the CTGs.
The PA has achieved successive victories against the terrorist group Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front or CPP-NPA-NDF.
On April 5, troops from the 75th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army recovered a high-powered firearm and ammunition in Sitio Catabadan, Brgy. San Roque, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, after a former rebel disclosed the location of the said buried firearm by the terrorist group.
Recovered items included an AK47 rifle, nearly 400 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, a long and a short magazine, and a bandolier.
On April 8, authorities apprehended the second-highest leader of the communist terrorist group operating in Visayas in Barangay Pitogo, Consolacion, Cebu.
The notorious rebel identified as Romulo Micabalo alias Ned/Lukad, leader of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), was responsible for numerous crimes in Visayas.
Meanwhile, on April 10, members of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade and the Quezon Municipal Police Station encountered NPA members in Purok 8, Barangay Butong, Quezon, Bukidnon, resulting in the death of one member and others were captured.
Items seized from the encounter site included an M203 Grenade Launcher, an AK47 Rifle, an M1 Carbine Rifle, a Caliber 45 pistol, an anti-personnel mine, a hand grenade, two 40mm High Explosives, subversive documents, and personal belongings.
In an interview with SMNI News, Col. Louie Dema-ala, spokesperson for the Philippine Army, stated that the successive victories of the military against rebel groups are a result of the cooperation of the community and the condemnation of their former comrades.
“This is an indication that the influence of the CPP-NPA is waning. It’s easier for us to locate and track them down with the help of civilians, their former mass base, who are now pointing out their locations,” Col. Louie Dema-ala, Spokesperson, PA said.
Philippines’ Isabela town liberated from CPP-NPA
Meanwhile, in the province of Isabela, the town of Palanan has been officially declared insurgency-free.
Through Joint Resolution Number 01-series 2024, Palanan town in the province of Isabela has been formally declared as “Insurgency-Free and State of Stable Internal Peace and Security.”
This declaration follows the consecutive approval of resolutions by the Palanan Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC).
In an interview with SMNI News, Maj. Rigor Pamittan, spokesperson for the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, stated that the town’s liberation from the communist terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF will open up more opportunities, jobs, and investments for the people of Palanan.
“The declaration of Palanan as one of the coastal towns of Isabela as an insurgency-free municipality has a significant impact on its economic aspect. More investors will come since there is no longer fear of the NPA terrorists who could extort or harass their businesses,” Maj. Rigor Pamittan, Spokesperson, 5th Infantry Division said.
Lastly, soldiers continue to encourage remaining members of the communist terrorist group to surrender to the government.
“To the remaining members of the CPP-NPA, we invite them to surrender and integrate into our communities to have a decent life. There have been successive surrenders and arrests of their leaders, so there’s no reason for them to stay there,” Dema-ala added.
