THE Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division reiterated that there are no active threats within its area of responsibility (AOR), even with the recent armed clash with alleged remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Manawi, Barangay Caatihan, Boston, Davao Oriental.
According to Major Ruben Gadut, spokesperson of the 10ID, the April 27, 2025 firefight involving troops from the 67th Infantry (Agila) Battalion resulted in the death of one insurgent believed to be part of the dismantled Regional Sentro de Gravidad (RSDG) Jaguar under the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).
Gadut said NPAs in the area had already been neutralized in 2022, with the dismantling of their organizational structure and loss of manpower.
He added that their operations are focused on tracking the remaining 10 to 12 individuals from the group. However, these remnants no longer possess the capability to conduct major operations.
The military operation was launched after residents reported a sighting of armed individuals. The 67IB, under the 701st Infantry (Kagitingan) Brigade and operationally controlled by the 10ID, responded swiftly, leading to the brief but decisive clash.
Commander of the 10ID Major General Allan Hambala lauded the community’s vigilance, following the incident, highlighting the essential role of public cooperation in deterring any resurgence of armed insurgents.
“The vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activities by our residents significantly hinder the ability of insurgent groups to re-establish themselves within our area of operation,” Hambala said. He also called on his troops to further strengthen coordination with local government units and communities.
Gadut, meanwhile, reminded the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to refrain from implicating individuals without concrete proof.
To sustain peace efforts, the 10ID continues to execute military operations through contingency planning and fragmentary orders in its areas of responsibility, which cover the whole of Davao Region or Region 11, some parts of Sarangani Province, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and some areas of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.
At the same time, the command is appealing to the remaining insurgents to surrender and reintegrate into society through the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip), which offers livelihood, education, and reintegration support to former rebels. DEF