CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The troops of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division intensified its focused military operations anew against the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) after combined troops of 4ID killed two CNTs and captured two high powered firearms in an encounter at Sitio Vertudazo, Brgy. San Juan, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur around 3:58 a.m. on, March 27.
Joint elements of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) under the operational control of the 401st Infantry Brigade headed by Brig. Gen. Rommel Almaria, and the 65th Infantry Battalion and 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion (2SRBn) under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade headed by Brig. Gen. George Banzon encountered some 18 CNTs after it launched operations in response to persistent reports of the local residents that armed elements were present in the area.
Almaria said that a 15-minute firefight resulted in the death of two still unidentified CNTs and the capture of one M4 Carbine Rifle, one Modified Carbine Rifle, numerous ammunitions and magazines as well as personal belongings at the encounter site.
He said the accomplishment was to the sustained convergence of efforts of the members of Task Force to End Local Communist Armed conflict (TF-ELCAC) that provided peace and developmental projects for the people.
“Our partnership with line agencies under the auspices of Task Force EL-CAC is the centerpiece of our campaign to defeat the CTG (Communist Terrorist Group). We earn the trust and support of the people when we provide them a conducive place to live that is economically developed and free from the threat and influence of the CTG,” Almaria said.
Meanwhile, Banzon lauded the combined efforts of his troops, particularly the 65IB and 2SRBn, and 401st Brigade’s 3SFBn. He said that joint operations between and among units will effectively block traditional routes of the CTG and cut off their resource and supply generations.
“We intend to finish this fight. While we have achieved so much in our campaign and declared 2022 as 4ID’s banner year, we shall continue to capitalize in our gains and step up some more to finally defeat the CTG to its smallest formations. Hence, we will continue to reach out not only to our partner agencies but also to the remaining CTG members to peacefully lay down their arms so that we could avoid the use of violence and instead save lives in our path towards achieving peace,” Banzon added.
