EastMinCom’s 1003rd Brigade (1003rd Bde) along with 89th Infantry Battalion (89th IB), 72nd IB, and Intelligence units recovered an M16 rifle in stashed at Sitio Rancho, Barangay Kulaman Valley, Arakan, North Cotabato during a joint intelligence operation launched on November 29, 2021.

 

A former CTG member identified as Mubo Mansumoy-at alias Ram of the Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee disclosed the location of the weapon, prompting the 1003rd Bde troops to respond to the information.

 

Meanwhile, EastMinCom’s 4th Infantry Division together with the 65th Infantry Battalion also recovered two more M16 rifles from the CTG in the hinterland of Sitio Kaunlaran, Barangay Tagbongabong, Agusan del Norte on November 27 following a tip-off from a former rebel.

 

Troops acted upon the information shared by Jonel Pasco alias Joel/Gong-gong, a former member of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 21C, Guerrilla Front 21, Sub-Regional Committee Westland, NEMRC, which led to the recovery of the high-powered firearms.

 

Pasco shared that he decided to surrender to the troops on November 26 after realizing that it was pointless to continue fighting against the government especially after their guerrilla unit suffered major blows in several encounters with government forces.

 

Pasco added that seeing his former comrades enjoying a peaceful life under the care of the government was also another reason that pushed him to surrender.

 

In a statement, LtGen. Almerol said that the recent recoveries of CTG firearms all over Eastern Mindanao were part of the series of operations launched by EastMinCom units in response to the various crucial information shared by CTG members and leaders who already capitulated. These accomplishments are also coupled with the skyrocketing number of CTG members and leaders who surrendered recently after suffering major defeats in several encounters with government forces.

 

“These former CTG leaders and members expressed willingness to cooperate with our troops in locating more CTG arms caches and pursuing the remaining communist terrorists as a show of gratitude for the support they have received from the government as they embark on a new life under the law,” LtGen. Almerol said.

 

The EastMinCom Commander also added that the former CTG leaders and members pledged to support the government’s campaign to end the local communist armed conflict by 2022.

 

LtGen. Almerol said that a series of arms cache discoveries, surrender of CTG members, and recovery of CTG firearms in Eastern Mindanao are expected in the coming days as former CTG members and government troops work closely to put an end to communist armed conflict.

 

One of EastMinCom’s breakthroughs this year was the seizure of 30 high-powered firearms following the discovery of an arms cache during intel operations launched at Sitio Bagyang, Barangay Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani from November 11 to 16, 2021. It was the largest arms cache discovered by the troops in the whole history of EastMinCom.


Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP

 

LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, Commander of EastMinCom, said that the troops of 39th Infantry Battalion (39th IB) and 10th K9 Team under the 1002nd Infantry Brigade launched an operation in response to a tip from former rebels, which led to the recovery of a caliber 50 machine gun with ammunition, a shotgun, four grenades, and a 40 mm grenade launcher ammunition at Sitio Bonglawaan, Barangay Palo 19, Tampakan, South Cotabato.

 

The former rebels divulged that the recovered items belonged to the CTG’s Guerilla Front Alip of the Far South Mindanao Region (GF Alip, FSMR).

 

LtGen. Almerol said that this is another strong indicator that the CTG is losing big in terms of manpower as they may have more weapons but now only have a dearth of men who may operate them.

 

“This is just one of the signs which shows that the CTG has a scarcity of manpower as more and more of their weapons lay unattended. This is important to note because the foundation of their operations heavily depends on their men,” LtGen. Almerol assessed.

 

 

Out of this figure, 66 were killed during the legitimate operations with government troops, 127 were captured, and 586 capitulated.

 

One thousand two hundred allies also withdrew their support from the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) as a result of EastMinCom’s focused military operations.

 

EastMinCom units also seized more than 600 high-powered and low-powered firearms in combat operations and through the surrender of former rebels. On top of that, the Command also seized 87 anti-personnel mines and discovered 180 CTG lairs within the same period.

 

Just recently, the 3rd Infantry Battalion (3rd IB) seized two AK47 rifles from Guerrilla Front Malayag, Sub-Regional Committee 2, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (GF Malayag, SRC2, NCMRC) during an intel operation launched at Sitio Trucut, Barangay Cawayan, Quezon, Bukidnon on November 24, 2021.

 

A former communist terrorist identified as Jeffrey Ardita alias Lingling, Squad Leader of Platun Dos/Team Leader of SPARU, Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad (Peddler), SRC2, NCMRC disclosed the location of the firearms after he surrendered to the troops on November 5, 2021.

 

Meanwhile, the Matigsalog tribe of Sitio Gamot, Barangay Sta. Felomina, Quezon, Bukidnon also turned over a Springfield M1 Garand rifle to the troops of 3rd IB on November 23, 2021, which was believed to be owned by a member of Platoon Bagsik of GF Malayag. The turnover happened following the three-day peacebuilding seminar conducted by the said unit in the area.

 

In a separate incident, a high-ranking CTG member identified as Iresh Ayuma Ramos alias Nene/Kam, Medical/Finance Officer of GF Motorola, SRC 1, NCMRC, surrendered to the Commanding Officer of 58th Infantry Battalion on November 21, 2021.

 

LtGen. Almerol said that the growing number of neutralized CTG members is a clear manifestation of the effective strategies employed by EastMinCom units in their respective areas.

 

“With no letup in our intensified combat operations, coupled with the strong support from the Local Government Units and the populace, we are optimistic that we can dismantle the remaining Guerilla Fronts in Eastern Mindanao and finally make way for unhampered peace and development,” LtGen. Almerol expressed.

 

The EastMinCom Commander ensured the public that his troops are working hard and doing their job with excellence for the benefit of the people of Eastern Mindanao and the country as a whole.

 

He also urged the remaining CTG members and their leaders to choose the greater path of peace by abandoning the armed struggle and accepting the government’s sincere offer to help them start a new life with their families, especially this Christmas season.

 

LtGen. Almerol also assured the public that EastMinCom’s resolve is stronger than ever as it continues to use every opportunity it could find in the pursuit of sustainable peace and development in Eastern Mindanao.

 

 

 

Since LtGen. Almerol took the helm of EastMinCom on March 8, 2021, he went straight to work and called for the fast-tracking of the clearing of focus areas and the ramping up of focused military operations, which resulted in the dismantling of six guerrilla units identified as GF 4A, GF 88, GF North, GF South, GF 68A, GF 55, and a Regional Guerrilla Unit - Pulang Bagani Command.

 

With no letup on intensified operations, LtGen. Almerol is eyeing the dismantling of an additional six more guerrilla fronts and a regional guerilla unit before the year ends, leaving seven guerilla fronts left for dismantling in 2022. The EastMinCom Commander, through the support of the populace, the local government units, and his troops, expressed optimism that he will be able to achieve the goal as the communist terrorist group had already suffered major blows in the recent focused military operations launched by the Command's Joint Task Forces.

 

Through the Command’s relentless pressure through combat operations in affected communities and intensified stakeholder engagements/partnership, it was able to neutralize a total of 21 Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leaders including Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, Commander and spokesperson of the National Operations Command and also of National Democratic Front (NDF) in Mindanao; Arian Jane Ochate Ramos alias Marikit, Secretary of Guerilla Front 55, Sub-Regional Command 5, Southern Mindanao Regional Command; Pedro Arnado, Chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Southern Mindanao Regional Committee; Danny Huit alias Bosyong, Secreteary of GF North; Khim Agad Mapoy alias Patrick, Secretary of GF4A Sub-regional Committee 3, NCMRC; Ramil Banawan alias Migs/Kim, Secretary of GF Malayag; Adelaida Magpatok alias Gwen/Emyang /Kudaw/Robby, Former Secretary of FSMR, NDF consultant, and CPP-NPA-NDF Central Committee Member; Jocy Villaruel Papasin alias Domai, Front Secretary of Guerrilla Front 18, Sub-Regional Committee 2, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee; and Billy Berana Jr. alias Borjack/Simeon, Secretary of Guerrilla Front Alip, Regional Operations Command, Regional Sentro de Grabidad, Far South Mindanao Region.

 

The neutralization of these top-ranking communist terrorists has also led to a snowball of surrenders of its members that are operating in Eastern Mindanao. “The neutralization of these top CTG leaders is deemed a major setback to the CTG and has provided a deterrent factor that will discourage its remaining members to carry out their plans and harm the people,” LtGen. Almerol said.

 

Within the same time frame, a total of 412 high-powered firearms and 105 low-powered firearms were also captured by the troops from the communist terrorists in Eastern Mindanao through combat and surrender. On top of these, it had also seized a total of 65 anti-personnel mines and discovered 149 enemy lairs; hence, diminishing the CTG’s firepower.

 

These accomplishments were considered significant in quelling the half-a-century-old communist insurgency as they brought down the strength of the communist terrorists and also led other CTG members to surrender peacefully.

 

“These accomplishments would not be possible without the support of our hardworking troops and the collaboration of our stakeholders in the goal to put an end to the communist armed conflict in Eastern Mindanao and the entire Philippines. I urge everyone to continue to be on board so that we can completely eradicate communist terrorism by 2022,” LtGen. Almerol said.

 

Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol reiterated his call on the remaining CTG members and leaders to embrace a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict by accepting the government’s offer through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

 

LtGen. Almerol also assured the public that EastMinCom will continue to do its best in addressing the challenges of insurgency by maximizing the best practices and lessons learned from actual experiences in its operations and exploiting every opportunity to shape the operational environment to the Command’s advantage.