Troopers from 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion seized packs of ammunition and food supplies concealed in a hideout abandoned by the members of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in a forested area of Sitio Lamusig, Barangay Tungao, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte on August 18, 2020, at around 08:10 in the morning.
The troops of 23IB together with the personnel from Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Team (MCSST) in Tungao with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 13 (RMFB 13) Community Action Team (ComACT) conducted a special intelligence operation in response to reports by concerned civilians in the area on the activities of the CTGs and the location of the hideout. Upon reaching the place, the government forces discovered an estimated 50-square meter area that served as a hideout that can accommodate around ten (10) persons. The civilians revealed that the said hideout was abandoned by the CTGs two days ago.
Upon scouring, the government troopers recovered one (1) AK47 magazine, one (1) M16 magazine, twenty-two (22) rounds of AK47 7.62mm ammunition, seventy-one (71) rounds of M16 5.56mm ammunition, four (4) empty cartons of AK47 ammunition, four (4) meters electrical wire, and three (3) gallons filled with rice equivalent to one and one-half (1 ½) sacks buried in the hideout. The recovered CTG supplies were brought to the headquarters of 23rd IB for proper disposition and disposal.
Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C Paulo, Acting Commander of 23rd IB expressed gratitude to the concerned citizens who bravely provided positive and timely information to the government forces regarding the activities and whereabouts of the enemies.
“We are glad that the residents of Sitio Lamusig willingly and bravely supported us in ending the insurgency in conflict-affected areas of Agusan del Norte. Through their cooperation and active participation, we were able to uncover another hideout and supply cache of the CTGs which contains supplies that they also extorted from the local residents of said sitio. In the past weeks and months, we also recovered CTG hideouts, landmines depots, firearms and supply cache within our area of operations through the information provided by the concerned residents. These accomplishments only indicate that they are already tired of the CTG exploitation and have been condemning the presence of CTGs in their communities. It likewise means that the armed group has lost mass support as the local populace shifted their support to the government,” Paulo said.
Furthermore, he also urged the remaining members of the CTGs to give up the futile armed struggle of the communist movement and surrender.
“We once again urge the remnants of CTGs to Lay down their arms and leave the revolutionary movement. You can no longer hide from the government forces because we are serious in our mission of dismantling the Guerilla Front (GF) 4A, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) who are terrorizing the innocent residents in vulnerable communities of Agusan del Norte,” Paulo said.
(23IB | 402BDE | RPN DXKS Surigao)