EastMinCom troops foil dwindling CTG's plans, seize firearms anew

 

Troops of the 403rd Brigade's 1st Special Forces Battalion (SFBn) prevented the CTG's plan to raid construction companies in charge of building road projects after clashing in the hinterland of Purok 6, Brgy. Imbayao, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on April 18.

 

The encounter transpired as government forces responded to information from concerned locals on the presence of armed individuals coercing civilians and planning to conduct atrocities, which led to the death of a CTG Medical Officer identified as Darren Jane Tilucan and the recovery of high-powered firearms and other war materiel composed of two M16 rifles, hand grenade, assorted magazines, ammunition, and backpacks.

 

LtGen. Almerol said that CTG remnants' attempt to attack construction companies and conduct other atrocities prove that they are anti-development. He also said that this is their way to intimidate companies and the locals to extort money and food since they are starving from the series of encounters with government troops.

 

"This shows that the CTG wants to prevent the people from enjoying the benefits of peace. This is their response to our development efforts strongly favored by the locals because they want them to remain poor and dependent on the terrorist movement," he said.

 

"Since they no longer have the support of the people, they are doing banditry to feed their forces who are now hungry and exhausted due to our relentless combat operations," LtGen. Almerol added.

 

Meanwhile, combined troops of the 401st Brigade’s 75IB, 3SFBn, and 2nd Surigao Del Sur Police Mobile Force Company seized seven AK47 rifles and 17 magazines after concerned citizens and former rebels divulged the location of an arms cache in Sitio Lagangan, Brgy Caras-an, Tago, Surigao del Sur on April 19.

 

The EastMinCom Commander lauded the cooperation of the local communities, former rebels, and the synergy between the AFP and PNP, which resulted in the recent accomplishment.

 

"With this new development, we are positive that the CTG's capability to fight will further diminish and lead to their eventual collapse. Hiding their firearms in cache proves that their forces are dwindling because of the series of surrenders, while their deceptive way of recruitment is no longer effective," he assessed.

 

He also reiterated his call to the remaining CTG leaders and members to surrender and avail the of government interventions such as the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), "unless you want to follow your comrades who died for a failed ideology."###