CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: After “completely” dismantling a major communist command in the Caraga Region, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) is doubling down on its offensive to wipe out the remaining New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Northern Mindanao.
Lt. Col. Joe Patrick Martinez confirmed this renewed push following the 4ID’s 2nd Quarter Campaign Progress Review and Assessment (CPRA) held Tuesday at Camp Edilberto Evangelista in this city.
“The results of our second quarter assessment prove that relentless military pressure and strong community support bring real peace,” Martinez told the Inquirer on Wednesday.
Martinez said that between April 1 and June 30, the division recorded 11 armed encounters with the NPA combatants. These operations resulted in the neutralization of 20 communist guerrillas and the seizure of 31 high-powered firearms.
The most significant blow to the communist insurgency in the region was the neutralization of Edilberto Reponte Daval, alias “Bong, Waco, and Bill,” who commanded the Regional Operations Command of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), Martinez said.
The communist unit’s “collapse,” he added, was sealed by the recent surrender of Elena Estaniel Rambuyon, alias “Sandra,” the former NEMRC secretary.
“The complete dismantling of the NEMRC and the historic declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security in Caraga are major milestones, but our work is not done,” Martinez said.
Maj Gen Marion Angcao, 4ID commander, congratulated the troops, recalling that the NEMRC was still intact when he first took command.
“Today, it has been successfully dismantled,” Angcao told his officers during the briefing.
While recognising the division’s accomplishments, Angcao directed his commanders to maximize all operational, intelligence, and logistical resources to deny the remaining guerrillas any chance to regain influence or reorganise. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
