APAT na high-ranking leaders ng Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) ang napatay sa matinding labanan sa Talakag, Bukidnon nang masabat ng mga tauhan ng AFP Eastern Mindanao Command, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army habang nagsasagawa ng focus military operation sa area.
Ayon kay EASTMINCOM commander, Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, nangyari ang engkuwentro sa KM24, Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag, Bukidnon.
Kinilala ang apat na napatay na sina Carlisio D. Sumalinog, commanding officer (CO) ng Sub-Regional Operations Command (SROC), Subregional Committee 4 (SRC4); Jovilito T. Pontillas, CO ng Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad (SRSDG) Company Wei, SRC4; Gary I. Juliana, CO ng Platun Uno, Guerilla Front (GF) 68B, SRC4; at Jelly A. Sugnot, medical and finance officer ng SRSDG Company Wei. Pawang nasa ilalim ng communist terrorist group ng North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
Narekober din sa lugar ang 16 matataas na kalibre ng baril, mga bala at personal na gamit ng mga rebelde.
Ayon kay Almerol, nagsasagawa ang kanyang mga tauhan ng operasyon nang mangyari ang engkwentro na tumagal ng halos dalawang oras.
Naniniwala ang opisyal na malaking dagok sa mga rebelde ang pagkamatay ng kanilang apat na lider makaraang makasagupa ang Philippine Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn).
“Our troops who are conducting focused military operations, combined with intel units and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) of the Philippine National Police, immediately responded to the information to secure the area, resulting in almost two hours of firefight that led to the death of the four CTG leaders,” ani Lt. Gen. Almerol.
Kasabay nito ang kanyang panawagan sa natitirang mga rebelde sa rehiyon na sumuko at magbalik-loob na sa gobyerno.
Kabilang sa narekober sa encounter site ang 16 high-powered firearms na kinabibilangan ng pitong M16 rifles, isang M203 grenade launcher, dalawang R4 carbines, isang M653 Rifle, tatlong M1 garand rifles, isang AK47 rifle, at isang M14 rifle, iba’t ibang magazines, ammunition, medicines, bandoliers, backpacks, at CTG flags.
Kaugnay nito, inihayag ni Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) Chief of Staff General Andres C. Centino, “Our efforts in reducing the CTG’s resources in terms of manpower, firepower, and money collected through extortion denied their members mobility, communication, and other equipment, which made them vulnerable to our operating troops.”
“The lack of resources complemented by our troop’s deployment in their guerilla bases limit their movement resulting in decisive engagements such as this latest success of the 1SFBn under the 403rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army,” dagdag pa ni Gen. Centino. (JESSE KABEL)
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