A joint checkpoint operation of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division’s (2ID) and the Philippine National Police has led to the apprehension of two terrorist NPA leaders in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro on Saturday.
According to 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office Chief Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrex Molina, troops from 4th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army and Police Regional Office 4B conducted a checkpoint operation at Sitio Banti in Barangay San Roque.
This activity follows a previous encounter between the government forces and the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the municipality of Mansalay where they arrested two armed individuals.
The arrested rebels were identified as alias Ems, a deputy secretary of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) and Kagawaran ng Rehiyon sa Edukasyon (KARED), and alias Patrick, a regional staff of KARED sa Edukasyon and former platoon leader of a terrorist NPA group operating in the MIMAROPA region.
The government forces also captured a caliber 38 pistol, one M203 grenade launcher, a hand grenade, and IED components.
In a statement, 2ID Commander, Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong thanked the civilians in the barangay for providing the information as he emphasized that 2ID will continue to work closely with the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of communities and uphold the rule of law.
Maj. Gen. Capulong also urged the remaining rebels to lay down their arms and heed the government’s call for peace as the military further intensifies its operations to dismantle the remaining CTGs in the region.
The apprehended individuals are now in Bulalacao PNP custody and will face charges for their involvement in terrorist activities.
