LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
BSKE 2023 in Eastern Mindanao: A Triumph of Unity and Peace as COMELEC, Law Enforcement, and Community join Forces
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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EastMinCom Launches Aggressive Ops to Prevent NPA Recovery Outside Davao Borders
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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NSFA Panacan, Davao City – A fugitive top-ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader and his wife who also served as a medic of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) were killed in an encounter with the troops in Barangay Sta. Maria, Trento, Agusan del Sur on April 26, 2021.
NPA’s Guerrilla Front North, Sub-Regional Command-1, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee Secretary Danny Huit alias Bosyong and his wife, Naneth G. Catalino alias Bambam/Keith, were slain after a skirmish with the troops of the 67th Infantry Battalion (67th IB) who pursued the couple after receiving a tip-off from a resident about the presence of armed individuals.
Huit had been on a wanted list for several charges including one count of frustrated murder, one count of homicide, two counts of arson, and one count of rebellion which are pending before Regional Trial Court Branches 7, 3, and 32 in Baganga, Davao Oriental; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; and Lupon, Davao Oriental, respectively.
Col. Oliver C. Maquiling, Commander of the 701st Infantry Brigade who operationally holds the 67th IB, lauded the relentless efforts of the troops to secure the communities by running after the communist terrorists.
MGen. Ernesto C. Torres, the Commander of the 10th Infantry Division, also commended the troops for standing by their mandate of protecting the people from lawless elements, adding that they will not give the enemies a chance to bring more terror among peace-loving communities.
Meanwhile, the Commander of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) MGen. Greg T. Almerol also praised the active participation of the community by immediately reporting suspicious individuals to authorities.
“The sustained coordination between the troops and the people is the key to the Command’s goal of building an insurgency-free and resilient communities. Without their firm support, we cannot fully uproot the evils brought by the CTG,” MGen. Almerol said.
MGen. Almerol reiterated his call for the remaining members of the CTGs to yield to the government peacefully instead of stubbornly fighting for a cause that only sows terror and violence.
“Choosing to die for a cause that has already claimed several innocent lives is not a noble act. The blood of the people you killed for your selfish political agenda will forever haunt you. History will only absolve you if you choose to surrender peacefully and help the country in building a peaceful and progressive Philippines,” MGen. Almerol said, addressing the CTG members who remain in the armed struggle.
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 Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – A series of encounters in different areas of Eastern Mindanao resulted in the death of two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and the seizure of several of their high-powered firearms.
A 40-minute skirmish with around 50 Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) that erupted at Sitio Tun-ogan, Barangay Lilingayon, Valencia City, Bukidnon on April 16, 2021 resulted to the death of an NPA member after troops of the 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn) thwarted the NPA’s planned atrocities.
The 1SFBn learned that the NPA was hatching plans of massive attacks through tip-off by the residents in the area, hence prompting them to take timely action. Troops also seized firearms, ammunition, and an improvised explosive device (IED) after the encounter.
Another NPA member was also slain in a separate encounter between the CNTs belonging to the Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and troops of 3rd Special Forces Battalion at Sitio Magkahunao, Barangay Buhisan, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur on April 14.
Troops also recovered a total of four firearms composed of two M16A1 rifles, an AK 47 rifle, and M653 rifle, and two bandoleers bearing five fully-loaded M16 magazines and four fully-loaded AK47 magazines from the encounter site.
In two other separate skirmishes on April 8 and April 12 respectively, soldiers of the 36th Infantry Battalion and 29th Infantry Battalion further weakened the NPA’s firepower after recovering several high-powered firearms composed of an M14 rifle, M16 rifle, AK47 rifle, an IED and several ammunitions.
Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) Commander MGen. Greg T. Almerol credited the success of the operations to the troops’ sustained crackdown on CNTs and the communities’ firm support on the government’s initiative to put an end to the local communist armed conflict.
“The communities’ timely reports and coordination with the troops play crucial roles in the success of our operations. Without their firm support, we would not be able to curtail the NPA’s planned atrocities,” MGen. Almerol said and adding that this only reflects the Filipinos’ sentiments against the NPA.
The EastMinCom Commander further extended his invitation to the remaining CNTs to peacefully surrender to the government and abandon their cause.
“The current peace and security situation in Eastern Mindanao reflects that there is no longer a place for the NPA to thrive. Many Barangays have already declared NPA members as persona non-grata and people in the communities are already aversed to their presence,” MGen. Almerol added.
“I urge the remaining NPA members to stop hurting themselves further by stubbornly fighting for a cause that has nowhere to go. Now is the best time to surrender as the government has already designed programs that will help you start a new life through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” MGen Almerol reiterated.
MGen. Almerol furthered that although the Command dislikes the idea of using force but would not hesitate to use it should it be compelling in order to protect innocent lives.
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – In what is considered to be a bold display of their defiance to the Communist Terrorist Group, three members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) Commander MGen. Greg T. Almerol at the 402nd Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Bancasi, Butuan City instead of joining their comrades in a celebration on March 29.
The three NPA members who surrendered to the EastMinCom Commander, who happened to visit the 402nd Brigade, were identified as Squad Uno, SDG CAOCAO Team Leader alias Brake/Dante, 20, alias Nike/Max, 17, and alias Andy/Many, 26, who all hailed from Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte. They brought with them firearms including an M16 rifle with attached M203 grenade launcher and a revolver.
The yielders expressed that they were left with no choice but to surrender especially that their mass base supporters have already turned against them, making them scampering and starving for their life. They also exposed the lies and false promises of the NPA which remained unfulfilled to this date, saying that they have gained nothing from the movement but only scars, wounds, and near-death experiences.
“I join the yielders in refusing to validate the NPA’s existence by refraining from mentioning any of its significant celebrations because after all, their movement has only brought grief and death to many innocent lives especially to the members of different tribes in Eastern Mindanao,” MGen. Almerol said.
“The NPA’s violent ideology has been persecuting our people for too long. Let us not allow another Filipino citizen to fall prey to their blind cause,” MGen. Almerol reiterated, urging the public and stakeholders to continue their support in sustaining the government’s peace and security agenda.
“We have already seen that by working together, we can easily extinguish the menace that is the NPA. With everyone on board, we can expect more NPA members and their cadres surrendering in the coming days,” the EastMinCom Commander added.
All NPA members who previously surrendered to the government are already enjoying different government programs and services such as financial assistance, livelihood training, scholarship, and housing under the Enhanced Comprehensive and Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) package.
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
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NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - Twenty-one members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and their supporters in different parts of Eastern Mindanao cut ties with the reds after experiencing hardship and betrayal under the armed struggle while four other communist terrorists were killed in separate incidents after launching offensives against the troops from March 12 to 22.
Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) Commander MGen. Greg T. Almerol made good on his vow to pursue high-value targets as two ranking members of the NPA were apprehended and one voluntarily surrendered to the troops in less than a month since he assumed the highest post of the Command.
The 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB) identified the apprehended communist terrorist leaders as Cecilia Acenas alias Leah, Finance Officer of the Regional Urban Committee, Northern Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) and Mary Jane Villados alias Ging-Ging/Tanya, the Finance Officer of the Sub-Regional Committee-2, NCMRC while GF ALIP, Far South Mindanao Region Secretary Anelfa Camag Gemilo alias Nanay Tasing also surrendered to the troops of the 39th Infantry Battalion. EastMinCom troops apprehended a total of eight NPA members within the same period
Among the most notable feats over the past week was the simultaneous surrender of 13 NPA members from the municipalities of San Luis, Esperanza, La Paz, and Talacogon in Agusan del Sur on March 15 as a result of the cooperation among different government agencies and 26IB.
The 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn) also clashed with the NPA in Barangay San Rafael, Talakag, Bukidnon on March 20, 2021, which resulted in the death of two terrorists and the seizure of firearms.
The 72IB also captured three members of Guerrilla Front 53 identified as Leonardo Ejanel alias Gamay, Ryan Desalao, and Merlyn Benano Bentang while two other communist terrorists identified as Jhonrey Patosa alias Rex/Rey/Glenn, Jerome Andilao alias Buddy Boy were killed in separate clashes against 30IB and 58IB, respectively.
Meanwhile, EastMinCom Commander MGen. Almerol applauded the decisions made by the NPA members to finally surrender and reiterated the assurance of support from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
Many former rebels can already attest to the benefits that come with the decision to surrender peacefully but most importantly, nothing is as priceless as having a peace of mind that is free from any forms of violence and atrocities which they can only experience by abandoning the armed struggle,” MGen. Almerol said.
“I call on the remaining communist terrorist to surrender peacefully instead of continuously fighting for a useless cause and blind ideology that has already claimed many innocent lives. Follow the steps of your former comrades who are now enjoying a secure and peaceful lives with the help of the government,” MGen. Almerol said.
The EastMinCom Commander also thanked various government agencies especially the members of the different Regional Task Forces to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) for according the Command the support it needs to push for its agenda to protect the people and maintain peace in Eastern Mindanao.
MGen. Almerol also did not let the support of the communities go unnoticed as they have been equally instrumental to the success of the Command especially in actively reporting to the troops any suspicious activities of individuals in the mountains.
“The people have already spoken that they are already fed up of the NPA’s deceits, extortion activities, and violent ideology. Their support to the troops manifests their sincere intentions to get rid of the problems that the NPA has brought to their communities for more than five decades already,” MGen. Almerol remarked.
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
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NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - Two long-time top leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) heeded the call of the government for them to lay down their arms and surrender after seeing the harmonious and prosperous lives being enjoyed by their former comrades under the no-nonsense government approach in helping former rebels rebuild their lives.
The two NPA leaders identified as Armando Daluniag alias Ambo/Satur/Pegan/Dario, the Commanding Officer of Headquarters Force (HQF) Neo, Northern Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC), and also the former Deputy Secretary of Guerrilla Front 89 and Roland Lagunday alias Ben, the Squad Leader of Squad 2, Platoon 2, HQF Neo, NCMRC voluntarily yielded to joint government forces under 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade of 4th Infantry Division on March 11, 2021, in Barangay Manalog, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
They also endorsed 11 high-powered firearms composed of four M16 rifles, three AK47 rifles, two M653 rifles, an M203 grenade launcher, and an M14 rifle to authorities.
The NPA leaders said that they decided to abandon the armed struggle after seeing the government’s sincere programs for peace and development and also the peaceful and harmonious lives being experienced by their former comrades who already surrendered to the government ahead of them.
BGen. Ferdinand T. Barandon, Commander of 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade, said that he is positive that the country will see an end to the 52 years of communist insurgency.
“Once again, I call on those who want to surrender that our government’s door is open and there are many programs that are ready for you,” BGen. Barandon said.
MGen. Andres Centino, the 4th Infantry Division Commander, said that the NPA leaders’ surrender is a response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for the remaining NPA members to surrender.
“We expect that more NPA leaders and members will heed the call of the President to return to the folds of the government,” MGen. Centino added.
Meanwhile, Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) Commander MGen. Greg T. Almerol welcomed the decisive action of the two NPA leaders and called on the remaining members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) to do the same.
“This news is a great manifestation that indeed, the government and rebels can meet halfway through peaceful resolution of the conflict. I am asking rebels who remain in the mountains that they have nothing to fear should they decide to surrender. Many opportunities await them under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP),” MGen. Almerol said.
The EastMinCom Commander, however, did not mince words when he said that he will not hesitate to use force should the CTG resort to use harmful means that will endanger innocent lives and cause instability in Eastern Mindanao.
MGen. Almerol also thanked the member agencies of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the local government executives for their firm support in helping troops eradicate the causes of communist insurgency.
“With everyone on board, we can make our job as protector of the state and people easier. Let us continue to inculcate a culture of cooperation towards a peaceful and progressive Philippines,” MGen. Almerol said, urging both government officials and citizens of the country to join hands with the Command in attaining sustainable peace and development in Eastern Mindanao.
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP