TWO members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed and two others surrendered in separate armed clashes in Surigao del Sur and Bukidnon last week, the military reported.
On July 7, 2023, an unidentified male rebel was killed following two encounters between the 43rd Division Reconnaissance Company of the 403rd Infantry Brigade and members of the Regional Sentro De Gravidad (RSDG) Compaq of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCRMC) in the hinterlands of Barangay Bontongon, Impasugong in Bukidnon.
According to the military, the two firefights lasted for around 30 minutes each.
Recovered from the site were one M4A1 5.56mm Carbine Rifle, one M14 7.62mm rifle, numerous war material and various personal belongings.
Meanwhile, at around 10 p.m. on July 8, troops of the 36th Infantry Battalion clashed with eight NPA rebels in Sitio Libas, Barangay Sibahay in Lanuza town, Surigao del Sur.
The said encounter resulted in the death of a male rebel identified as Risam Gonzales Gam alias Kim/Miguel, a member of Squad 3, Sentro de Grabidad 16 (SDG16), GF16, NEMRC and a resident of Barangay Sinay, Sibagat town in Agusan del Sur.
The troops also recovered one M653 Assault Rifle at the encounter site.
On the same day, two members of the Regional Sentro De Gravidad, NEMRC surrendered to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion and 75th Infantry Battalion in Barangay San Isidro, Surigao del Sur.
The surrenderers were identified as alias KR, Mess Officer of Squad 1, and alias Jong-jong, Vice Squad Leader of Squad 3.
According to the two rebels, they chose to surrender due to demoralization within their ranks brought about by the relentless military operations and isolation from communities due to lack of support from the civilian populace.
The military troops recovered two .50 Caliber Sniper Rifles, four AK47 Rifles, and numerous ammunition and magazines from an arms cache.
Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo II, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, in a statement, said that the communist terrorist group (CTG) has "further weakened its criminal capabilities" and is in the "state of disillusionment."
"We have prevailed. Our past and recent successful encounters and surrenders from the CTG have been a consistent trend for the CTG's weakening state," Cuerpo said.
"We will continue the fight under the government's whole of nation approach, for our people who have now felt the relatively safe environment and are enjoying genuine peace, free from threat and danger in their communities from these criminal groups," he added.
