LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
EastMinCom Troops Neutralize Two High-ranking CTG Leaders, Secures Another Victory Against the Terrorists
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Troops from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn), under the operational control of the 401st Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Eastern Mindanao Comma...
Read MoreEastMinCom Troops Neutralize Two High-ranking CTG Leaders, Secures Another Victory Against the Terrorists
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Troops from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn), under the operational control of the 401st Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Eastern Mindanao Comma...
Read More
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - The sustained military operations launched by the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) under the direction of LtGen. Greg T. Almerol induced more losses to the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) after neutralizing 155 CTG members and capturing 172 firearms and 28 anti-personnel mines (APM) from January to 2nd week of May this year.
In a recent development, combined troops of the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) and 36IB, under the operational control of Joint Task Force (JTF) Diamond's 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde), neutralized three CTG personalities and captured seven high-powered firearms in an encounter at Sitio Katarugan, Brgy. Lobo, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on May 11.
Two of the said fatalities were identified as Alberto Castañeda alias Bern/JD, Commanding Officer of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16C, Guerilla Front 16 (SYP16C, GF16) and Eric M. Colon alias Neo, Political Guide of Squad 1, Sentro de Grabidad 16 (SDG16), GF16, all under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Government troops also seized three AK47 rifles, an Ultimax 100 Light Machine Gun, an AR18 rifle, an M16 rifle, an R4 rifle, an improvised explosive device (IED) with detonator, 13 backpacks with assorted personal belongings, communication and electronic devices, a medical kit, and other war materiel after the skirmish.
Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol lauded the troops of JTF Diamond for their efforts and dedication to pursue the goal of EastMinCom to eradicate the CTG this year with the help of local government units and support of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“The recent accomplishment is a testament to our continuous efforts to finish the dwindling CTG units in our joint operational area and to attain just lasting peace in Eastern Mindanao," he said.
The EastMinCom Commander likewise warned the remaining active CTG members to reconsider their refusal to yield, should they wish to avoid the fate of their dead comrades "who continued to terrorize the peace-loving communities."###
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - JTF Diamond of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) troops, under the supervision of LtGen. Greg T. Almerol facilitated the surrender of a high-ranking Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leader and his nine members at Brgy. Bancasi, Butuan City on April 24.
They were all under the Headquarters Force (HQF) Neo and Sub-Regional Committee (SRC1) of the Northern Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
LtGen. Almerol identified the former CTG leader as Lino A. Namatidong alias Dahon, Commanding Officer of HQF Neo. Along with him was his wife Reyna N. Namatidong alias Miray, Regional Staff, Education and Propaganda; Nestor P. Namatidong alias Labni, Squad 3 Team Leader; Ronnie N. Polistico alias Allan, Squad 4 Leader; Angleo L. Pal-ot alias Selda, Squad 2, Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Compaq Political Guide; Lyka N. Lagaolao alias Jelly, Squad 4 Medic; Jerry P. Inantag alias Johny Boy, Sub-RSDG MTJ Eagles, SRC1 member; and Besto Tumanan alias Lagbas, Gay-gaya Tumanan alias Longhair, and Ronald A. Dungogan alias Onad, all Squad 4 members.
The former rebels also yielded 10 high-powered and low-powered firearms composed of three shotguns, two M16 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, an AK47 rifle, a Carbine rifle, and a Garrand rifle.
The latest mass surrender came after the 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) under the 402nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (402Bde, 4ID), and other intelligence units of JTF Diamond launched a joint intelligence operation.
LtGen. Almerol said this was also the result of their persistent calls for the CTG remnants to yield to spare their lives from the intensified military operations.
Meanwhile, the EastMinCom Commander praised the troops of the 23IB, 402Bde of JTF Diamond for encouraging the leadership of Lino Namatidong to return to the folds of government through peaceful means.
"We are looking into the possibility that the surrender of Namatidong would induce more capitulation in the coming days, especially from his downline members. Thus, I urge those remnants of the CTG to yield peacefully just like your other comrades unless you want to follow those who have already died for a useless cause," LtGen. Almerol added.#
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - A joint law enforcement operation launched by the Philippine and Malaysian governments led to the arrest of Eric Jun B. Casilao alias Elian/Wally, Secretary of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee member, at the Jeti Point International Clearance Gate, Langkawi, Malaysia on April 1.
Casilao is considered the most wanted Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leader in Southeastern Mindanao, notorious for staging numerous atrocities in the Davao Region and other neighboring regions under the SMRC. He also has existing arrest warrants for Murder, Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention, and Attempted Murder.
He was boarding a ferry bound for Koh Lipe, Thailand, when joint law enforcers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police (PNP), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, Royal Malaysian Police, and Malaysian Immigration arrested him.
Before his arrest, Casilao was put on the Malaysian Red Notice List through the request of the PNP for falsification of his passport by assuming a fake identity.
He was temporarily detained in Malaysia for immigration laws violation and subsequently deported to the Philippines on April 17 to face the charges against him.
Last year, the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) through the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) released a wanted poster of Casilao to fast-track his arrest through the support of civilians.
LtGen. Greg T. Almerol, the Commander of EastMinCom, said that this prompted Casilao to abandon his comrades for fear of being identified by the community that shall eventually lead to his arrest, and the series of defeats his group has experienced due to the relentless focus military operations launched by EastMinCom units.
meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol lauded the 10ID, PNP, intelligence units, and other law enforcement agencies with the support of the Royal Malaysian Police for their efforts that led to the arrest of Eric Casilao.
"The arrest of Casilao proves that the Philippine government is determined to run after those who violated our laws wherever they hide. To the remaining CTG leaders, let this be a stern warning that 'no stones will be left unturned' even if they hide outside the country," the EastMinCom Commander said.#
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP
NSFA, Panacan, Davao City - Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), under the leadership of LtGen. Greg T. Almerol neutralized a notorious leader of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) during a clash with the troops of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) under the 401st Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (401Bde, 4ID) at Sitio Hugmakan, Barangay San Juan, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur on March 30.
Government forces identify the slain personality as Emmanuel B. Anub Sr. alias Salem, Executive Committee Member of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) and Secretary of both Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Westland and Guerilla Front (GF) 21, NEMRC.
He has 23 pending warrants of arrests and criminal cases for murder, multiple frustrated murder, arson, kidnapping, illegal detention, robbery with intimidation, and other crimes.
Troops also captured an AK47 rifle, six magazines with ammunition, a bandoleer, a cellular phone, and terrorist documents after the encounter.
Before this, the 3SFBn also killed two high-ranking members of the NEMRC, identified by their aliases as Dano and Zig, during a skirmish at Sitio Vertudazo of the same barangay on March 27.
The recent neutralization of CTG leaders was part of the intensified military operations launched by EastMinCom units through the directive of LtGen. Almerol to thwart possible atrocities of the New People's Army (NPA) in line with its 54th anniversary.
Meanwhile, the EastMinCom Commander lauded the troops of 4ID for their recent accomplishment, which will give justice to the victims of Anub's terror.
"The death of alias Salem will finally end the countless atrocities brought by the CTG in some parts of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. Let his end be an example to other NPA personalities still terrorizing the people in our area that their time is up," LtGen. Almerol warned.
He also vowed to continue their relentless military operations and support the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to defeat the CTG to pave the way for peace and development in Eastern Mindanao.#
Source: Public Information Office, Eastern Mindanao Command, AFP