PHILIPPINE Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Eric Vinoya has lauded the 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) following their successful operations against the New People's Army (NPA) in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last week.
In his statement, Vinoya commended 94IB for foiling the NPA's illegal activities.
The 3ID commander directed 94IB commander, Lt. Colonel Angelo Guzman, to continue pursuing the remaining rebels and never allow them to re-enter the communities in order to extort from the civilian populace, especially in this trying times.
“Terrorists like NPAs have no place in our peace-loving communities; hence, we will not rest until they will be rendered irrelevant and our communities are free from the threats that these terrorists pose,” Vinoya added.
Last Thursday, the 94IB engaged at least five NPA insurgents in Himamaylan City's Barangay Carabalan, which resulted to the arrest of 41-year-old Jovel Pacheco; 37-year-old Francisco Verde, Jr.; 32-year-old Gene Boy Verde; and 22-year-old Ronald Pacheco.
The fifth insurgent managed to elude capture by government forces.
Soldiers recovered a .22 caliber rifle, a homemade shotgun, two revolvers, a 40mm grenade launcher ammunition, and other war materiel.
The seized firearms were immediately turned over to the Himamaylan City Police Station, while the four captured insurgents are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
All four are detained at the Himamaylan City Police Station.