A NEW People’s Army (NPA) amazon was killed and war materials belonging to communist rebels recovered Monday after a 30-minute firefight against the security forces of the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion in the hinterlands of Alegria, Surigao del Norte, an official said Tuesday.
Army’s 4th Infantry Division public affairs chief Captain Al Anthony Pueblas said the dead body of the slain female NPA guerilla estimated to be 25 to 30 years old was turned over to the local government of Alegria for identification and proper burial.
“The Army will continue to go after the rebels until they stop the terror acts they commit against the people,” said Pueblas.
Pueblas said the operation was launched by the 30IB in response to the reports of the presence of armed men in the area extorting goods and monies in their community of Camp Edward in the town of Alegria.
He said the troops recovered 3 AK 47 rifles, 1 Spike Tactical M16 rifle with scope, 5 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 3 C5 and 2 C4, assorted medical supplies, 18 backpacks with personal belongings and subversive documents with high tactical value.
Pueblas said the government troops encountered the beleaguered terrorists belonging to the Sentro De Grabidad of Guerilla Front-16, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee led by a certain Alberto Castaneda alias “JD”.
The said terrorist group is responsible for the biggest economic sabotage happened in the province when they attack Taganito Mining way back 2011 in which thousands of employees and workers were economically and psychologically affected, according to Pueblas.
On June 03, 2020, the patrolling troops of 30IB were also seized 1 M16 rifle and 2 anti-personnel mines after exchanging bullets with the communist rebels in the hinterlands area of Camp Langit in the same town.
“The success of the security operation might not have been realized without the support of the community particularly for providing real-time information that led to this armed engagement,“ said 30IB commander Lt. Col Ryan Charles G. Callanta.
Army’s 4ID commander Maj. General Andres Centino took note of the growing support for the Army within the community.
Centino even attributed that effective implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict" in the countryside.
“It is my commitment to respond to the call of the peace-loving people of Surigao del Norte to preserve the peace and security in the province,” Centino said.
He also called on the remaining NPA rebels to lay down their arms and avail of the support services being offered by the government.
“The 4ID will remain true to its mandate and will put an end to these communists terrorist who has threatened our beloved Surigaonons, lambasted our democracy, and hampered our country’s development for more than five (5) decades,” said Centino. (Ben Balce)
