Erwin M. Mascariñas, News5-InterAksyon
Butuan City – The 26th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division is intensifying its operation in the hinterlands of San Luis in Agusan del Sur after two communist rebels of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and their camp discovered last Holy Thursday.
“We captured the NPA camp and recovered the remains of their two fallen comrades together with weapons, ammunitions and food provisions in Barangay Mahagsay in the town of San Luis, Agusan del Sur last week. We focused our efforts in this mission while we still have the upper hand and while they are on the run,” said Lt. Col. Rommel S Pagayon, Commanding Officer of the 26IB.
Pagayon said the operation has become bigger since other battalions in the neighboring areas also contributed to the effort.
“We want to completely remove the NPA’s influence in the community, so what we are doing is pushing them off, and then other battalions join in to completely overwhelm them,” said Pagayon.
A 4ID report stated that the bodies of two suspected NPA rebels were discovered on April 13, 2017, Holy Thursday, in the area that was believed to be an NPA camp, along with a CZ 550 carbine rifle, 50 rounds of ammunition for the M60 with 34 sacks of rice, 10 backpacks containing personal effects, and documents. The soldiers took over the area after an estimated 30-minute firefight with close air support from Philippine Air Force UH-1H helicopters providing machine gun and rocket fire.
Captain Joe Patrick Martinez, Spokesman of the 4ID, explained that the division intensified its operations since the lifting of the cease fire.
“The intensification of operation did not just happen after the fall of the camp. Since the lifting of the cease fire with the NPA, the 4ID has intensified its operation. In this case, the increase in the operational strength was applied after due study and the need to further push our collective effort against the fleeing rebels,” said Martinez.
Martinez added, “the other operating units in the nearby towns are there to add more flexibility and better maneuverability in terms of blocking and in containing the threat from the insurgency. We need to contain the conflict to secure population civilian communities, so, with other battalions in the periphery, we are isolating the movement of the NPA.”
“The intelligence indicated that several sacks of rice and supplies had been coming to the area, but there was no clear knowledge where exactly they were headed. So, we conducted our own investigation until we were able to determine the exact location of the camp. Our troops were able to penetrate the area but it was not an easy mission,” said Pagayon.
Residents in the towns of San Luis and Talacogon narrated that helicopters had been seen and heard in the area as early as Tuesday.
“So we already had an idea that something was taking place, as it is not often we have them flying in our skies for several days, unless there was a disaster relief operation,” said Ferdausi Cerna, Municipal Administrator in the town of Talacogon.
In a press statement, Maj Gen. Benjamin R Madrigal Jr, Commander of the 4ID, lauded the swift execution of the operation and congratulated the troops for the successful operation.
The NPA has yet to issue a statement regarding the ongoing military operation and toward the killed alleged NPA’s that are yet to be identified.
