LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
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NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023 in Eastern Mindanao concluded as a remarkable testament to unity and peace.
As of 6PM on 30 October 2023...
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NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) troops belonging to Joint Task Force (JTF) Agila, launched series of intensive combat operations to prevent the Communist Terrorist ...
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Team EastMinCom Scores Big as 4 NPA Members Slain, 8 Nabbed, 1 Minor Rescued in San Fernando Clash
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Team Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) under LtGen. Greg T. Almerol delivered again a major blow to the New People’s Army (NPA) as troops relentlessly pursued the rebels in a decisive engagement that resulted in the death of four rebels, the capture of eight others, and the rescue of a minor combatant in Barangay Mabuhay, San Fernando, Bukidnon on September 8, 2021.
Two of the captured NPA members who sustained wounds during the encounter were immediately given first aid by the troops and brought to the nearby hospital for further treatment.
Soldiers from EastMinCom’s 88th Infantry Battalion figured in a one-hour firefight with around 20 members of Guerrilla Front Malayag, Sub-Regional Committee 2, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee under alias Migz, Front Secretary, in response to information from residents that the Communist Terrorist Group was conducting recruitment and extortion activities in their community.
This prompted the unit to conduct strike operations to protect the populace from NPA atrocities, leading them to seize from the rebels’ 16 high-powered firearms composed of five AK47 Rifles, seven M16 Rifles, two M635, one M14 Rifle, and one M203 grenade launcher.
The 12-year-old minor combatant was rescued by the troops from the scene and turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer of San Fernando for proper disposition.
LtGen. Almerol lambasted the NPA for their continued recruitment of minors as child soldiers which is a blatant violation of the International Humanitarian Law.
“The CPP-NPA-NDF should stop their madness of recruiting children into the armed struggle. If they really have hearts, then they should know better that those children have no place in the battle. They are meant to flourish and live their dreams,” LtGen. Almerol said.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol commended the active participation of the residents of San Fernando who were quick to provide vital and timely information on the presence of armed groups pestering the residents with their unscrupulous activities such as recruitment of ill-informed local townsfolk and harassing ordinary citizens.
"This is proof of the people’s genuine intent to help the government in its crusade for peace and in pushing the end of the local communist armed conflict in their communities," LtGen. Almerol reiterated.
LtGen. Almerol assessed the NPA’s heavy loss would incapacitate the Guerrilla Front Malayag and most likely lead the remaining members to yield peacefully. He also lauded the joint forces of the 4th Infantry Division for the job well done and told them to keep up the good work.
LtGen Almerol also extended his condolences to the families of the slain NPA members whom he reiterated that they were just victims of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) agenda of violence.
“It is befitting to stress that the whole EastMinCom discourages the use of brute force in confronting the rebels. That is why we continually urge the remaining NPA members to lay down their arms and stop sacrificing their lives for a senseless ideology,” LtGen. Almerol said.
In a statement, LtGen. Almerol said: “Now is the best time to surrender as the government has already designed programs that will help you to start a new life through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP),” he also added that choosing to die for a cause that has already claimed many innocent lives is not a noble act.
EastMinCom’s units have already assisted several rebels who peacefully surrendered to the government in building a prosperous and peaceful life through livelihood, financial, housing, and scholarship benefits from the government’s ECLIP.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol commended the active participation of the residents of San Fernando who were quick to provide vital and timely information on the presence of armed groups pestering the residents with their unscrupulous activities such as recruitment of ill-informed local townsfolk and harassing ordinary citizens.
“This is proof of the people’s genuine intent to help the government in its crusade for peace and in pushing the end of the local communist armed conflict in their communities,” LtGen. Almerol reiterated.
LtGen. Almerol assessed the NPA’s heavy loss would incapacitate the Guerrilla Front Malayag and most likely lead the remaining members to yield peacefully. He also lauded the joint forces of the 4th Infantry Division for the job well done and told them to keep up the good work.
LtGen Almerol also extended his condolences to the families of the slain NPA members whom he reiterated that they were just victims of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) agenda of violence.
“It is befitting to stress that the whole EastMinCom discourages the use of brute force in confronting the rebels. That is why we continually urge the remaining NPA members to lay down their arms and stop sacrificing their lives for a senseless ideology,” LtGen. Almerol said.
In a statement, LtGen. Almerol said: “Now is the best time to surrender as the government has already designed programs that will help you to start a new life through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP),” he also added that choosing to die for a cause that has already claimed many innocent lives is not a noble act.
EastMinCom’s units have already assisted several rebels who peacefully surrendered to the government in building a prosperous and peaceful life through livelihood, financial, housing, and scholarship benefits from the government’s ECLIP.
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP