CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur (PIA)– Five (5) Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members were killed in an encounter with government troopers on Thursday, Feb. 9, in Barangay Guiom, Cawayan, Masbate.
The government side reported no casualties or injuries. Members of the 2nd Infantry Battalion are still pursuing other CTG members who fled after being outnumbered by the responding soldiers.
Members of the 2nd IB were conducting security patrol when they received information about GTG members lurking in the area, according to a press release from the Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO).
Following verification, a 20-minute firefight ensued, resulting in the deaths of 5 CTG members, including the Commanding Officer of Platoon 1, Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsya 4.
(Photo credits: DPAO, PA)
One was wounded from the CTG’s side while three (3) CNT sympathizers were captured.
High calibre guns which include AK47, five (4) M16 rifles and other terroristic materials were also found in the encounter site.
9ID Commanding General MGEN Adonis Bajao expressed his dismay over the recent encounter after learning that 5 people were killed and others were injured.
He stated that the army does not rejoice over the death of the state’s enemy, but rather regrets that the CTGs have refused to accept the government’s call to return to the folds of the law and abandon armed struggle, causing sadness among the bereaved families.
The continuous sightings in geographically isolated areas in the provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate only strengthened the army’s resolve to focus their operations in the aforesaid areas to eradicate the persistent presence of the CTGS.
“Nakakalungkot po na makatanggap ng ganitong balita, ngunit hindi naman po naming pwedeng baliwalain ang banta ng terorismo lalo pa’t ito’y nakakaapekto sa komunidad. Kaya nga po hindi tayo napapagod na manawagan sa mga CTG na sila ay sumuko na lamang, at sila’y hikayatin na makiisa sa pamahalaan nang sa gayon ay makasama niyo na rin ang inyong mga pamilya ng matiwasay at walang inaalala
[It also saddened us to receive unfortunate information like this but we cannot also set aside the threat of terrorism, especially since it affects the community. We are calling all CTG members to surrender, accept the government’s peace offering and live with their families]”, MGen. Bajao said. (With reports from DPAO-PIA5/Camarines Sur
Photo cover: Credits: DPAO,9ID PA
