The Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) clashed with an estimated 15 Communist-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) on November 1, 2020 in the tri-boundaries of Brgy. Buenasuerte and Brgy. Laperian, Tukuran and Brgy. Dipaya, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The 21-minute firefight incurred no casualty on the government side, while the CNTs, believed to be remnants of NPA’s Main Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU) of Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC), rushed towards North direction.
The troops were able to capture from the encounter site two (2) poncho tents, one (1) sack of charcoal, empty AK47 and M16 bullet shells, and assorted food stuff.
53rd IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera said the firefight against the NPA terrorists was a result from the tip-off of the community in the area.
“We can now see that the community is very cooperative in our pursuit of peace,” said Lt. Col. Herrera.
The 53rd IB has alerted its troops and the PNP’s ZamboSur 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st PMFC) for the possible conduct of blocking and checkpoints to prevent the enemy from further instilling fear and unrest among the civilians.
Hot pursuit operations is currently ongoing as of this posting.
(Source: 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion)
