Army engages NPAs in Sultan Kudarat mountains, 3 guns seized
Local News • 15:34 PM Fri Mar 9, 2018
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
BAGUMBAYAN,
Sultan Kudarat -– The Army’s 33rd Infantry Makabayan
Battalion on Thursday engaged remnants of communist rebels operating in the
hinterlands of Sultan Kudarat, an operation that led to the recovery of an
improvised bomb, foodstuffs, and two Armalite bushmaster and M-16 Armalite colt
rifles.
Lt. Colonel
Harold Cabunoc, 33rd IB chief, personally led the operation against
New Peoples’ Army (NPA’s) Platoon Arabo and Platoon My Phone in Sitio Laguicon,
Barangay Sto. Nino, Bagumbayan beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Cabunoc said
ground troops armed with artillery and mortar launchers were led by 2Lt. Carlito
Christopher Agustin and Police Special Reaction Platoon against the rebels who have
been hiding in a thickly covered hill. They are remnants of communist rebel
groups who surrendered and availed of government amnesty program, Cabunoc
said.
Government
troops have been implementing two-pronged approach – offensives but with open
arms for those who wish to surrender, Cabunoc added.
He refused to
say if the NPAs suffered casualties as there was no body count
recovered. No government casualty, he
added.
A day before
the offensives, Cabunoc said, two rebels came down from the mountains and
peacefully surrendered. We welcomed the two with open arms for they chose the
right path than engaged a more powerful Philippine Army, he said.
Cabunoc
personally talked to residents of Sitio Sinaban, Barangay Sto Nino, to calm
them down and convinced them not to leave as the Army was on top of the
situation.
The former
spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said more and more
insurgents have expressed their intention to lay down their arms. (Edwin O.
Fernandez)