PERSONNEL of the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) recovered firearms following a 15-minute firefight with members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the hinterlands of Sitio Kamaca, Barangay Bontongon in Impasugong, Bukidnon on September 22, 2023.
The troops seized one caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle, one caliber .45 M1911 pistol, one caliber.30 M1 Garand rifle clip loaded with eight rounds of ammunition, one caliber .45 pistol magazine loaded with two rounds of ammunition, one improvised explosive device (IED), one fuse, one detonating cord, and one backpack with personal belongings.
According to the military report, a focused military operation composed of the troops of 8IB was launched, resulting in an encounter with seven members of the CPP-NPA around 10:48 a.m. of September 22.
Around 1:20 p.m. of the same day, the troops discovered an arms cache around a hundred meters away from the encounter site, along Bigaan creek.
Recovered from the arms cache were one 5.56mm M16A1 rifle, one M203 grenade launcher, another one caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle, one caliber .22 semi-automatic pistol, four M16 long magazines, and one empty caliber .22 pistol drum magazine.
"The result of our operations is because of the reports coming from the concerned citizens who were aware of the CPP-NPA Terrorists’ (CNTs) presence in the area," said Brigadier General Mitchele Anayron Jr., commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade.
"This is a proof that they don’t have mass supporters anymore, and that they now have only limited food supplies in the mountains. These leave them with no other choice, but to surrender and to return to the folds of the law," he added.
The 403IB commander assured that the military will "continue to protect the people in the hinterlands from the recruitment and deceptions of the Communist Terrorists."
"This is our mandate. We continue to call on to the remaining CTG members, who want to lay down their arms and choose peace, that we are willing to help you," Anayron said.