DALAWANG kasapi ng CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) ang napatay habang dalawang matataas na kalibre ng baril ang nasamsam ng mga tauhan ng Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division sa inilunsad na magkasunog na focused military operation sa mga lalawigan ng Misamis Oriental at Surigao del Sur noong Pebrero 11 at 12.

Unang nakasagupa ng mga tauhan ng 58th Infantry Battalion na pinamumunuan ni Lieutenant Colonel Christian C. Uy, ang siyam na mga kasapi ng New People’s Army SRSDG MTG Eagles, SRC 1; North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) sa Sitio Kayagan, Brgy. Quezon Heights, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.

Matapos ang ilang minutong bakbakan, napaslang ang isang Miguel Sereño alias “Eman/Zoren/Bestre”, vice squad leader ng squad 1 ng nasabing CNT group, at nakuha sa kanya ang isang Ingram machine pistol, detonating cord at blasting cap, backpack na may personal na mga kagamitan, at assorted terrorist documents.

Kinabukasan, nasabat naman ng mga tauhan ni Lieutenant Colonel Paulo Baylon, commanding officer ng 3rd Special Forces Battalion, ang grupo ng mga terorista sa ilalim ng Regional Operations Command (ROC) at Regional Centro De Gravedad (RSDG) ng North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee sa Brgy. Baucawe, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, kung saan napatay ang isang NPA, at nakuha rito ang isang M60 machine gun at iba’t ibang CTG war materiel.

“After our troops thoroughly scoured and cleared the area due to heavy blood stains at the encounter site, we discovered an abandoned female CNT cadaver initially identified as alias Sunshine, Medic of ROC, NEMRC. It is very unfortunate that another life had been wasted because of the continuous deceit of CTG,” ani Lt. Col. Baylon.

“We call upon the remaining CTG leaders to stop exploiting innocent civilians for their senseless and violent agenda,” dagdag pa ni Lt. Col. Baylon.

Ayon kay Major General Jose Maria R. Cuerpo II, commander ng Army 4th Infantry Division, “These achievements demonstrate a substantial blow to the CTG’s abilities to carry out atrocities, particularly in vulnerable communities within our area of responsibility.”

“Nevertheless, we remain open and ready to embrace those who will choose to lay down their firearms and assure them of necessary assistance under the government’s E-CLIP,” panawagan pa ni MGen. Cuerpo.

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)