MAJOR General Jose Maria Cuerpo II, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army, praised his troops for their recent successful engagements with communist New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents in three separate incidents across Balingasag, Misamis Oriental; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
According to a press statement from Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Garrelo Jr., head of the 4ID’s Division of Public Affairs Office (DPAO), the encounters resulted in the deaths of two NPA combatants during separate clashes in Sitio Alubijid, Barangay Rosario, Balingasag, and Barangay Concepcion, Cabadbaran City, on February 21 and 23, respectively.
Col. Garrelo emphasized that these engagements were part of the 4ID’s proactive pursuit operations against the remaining NPA forces, aiming to put an end to the longstanding insurgency issue within the region’s jurisdiction.
The fleeing insurgents abandoned their fallen comrades and left behind weaponry, including an M16 Rifle, an AK47 rifle, ammunition, food supplies, and crucial terrorist documents of significant intelligence value, Col. Garrelo added.
On February 26, government troops engaged and successfully repelled 15 NPA rebels in Barangay Magsaysay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, without any casualties reported. The operation resulted in the capture of an M16 Rifle, an AK rifle, and personal belongings within a 25-minute exchange of gunfire.
General Cuerpo hailed these recent encounters as significant blows to NPA forces operating in Northern Mindanao, lauding his troops for their effectiveness in executing their duties.
He acknowledged the invaluable support from local communities that contributed to the success of the military operations.
Gen. Cuerpo reiterated the government troops’ unwavering commitment to quelling the NPA insurgency and vowed to maintain focus on their mandate of curbing the group’s nefarious activities.
“These successful encounters underscore our troops’ unrelenting commitment and strong resolve to confront and address the challenges posed by NPA in Northern Mindanao and Caraga region,” Gen. Cuerpo said.
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