ILOILO CITY (PIA) – A top official of the Philippine Army here has called anew the remaining members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) to surrender to the government.
According to Army’s 3rd Infantry Division Commander Major General Benedict Arevalo, in an interview over a local radio station, there are only three things for the rebels to happen—to surrender to the government, get arrested and be imprisoned, or die.
Arevalo said that before it will be too late for the rebels, they must go down and surrender as there are already a number of them who laid down their arms and are now living peacefully.
“Ang nabubuhay sa dahas ay kadalasan sa dahas din namamatay,” he reminded the CTG.
Arevalo confirmed that eight members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) died in an encounter with the government troops, December 1, in Barangay Alimodias, Miagao, Iloilo.
He said that the identity of the CNTs who died in the encounter site is being processed by the authorities.
Recovered from area were three M16 rifles, one AK47 rifle, four anti-personnel mines, three detonators, one projector, subversive documents with high intelligence value, and assorted personal belongings.
Meanwhile, Arevalo commended the troops of 301st Infantry Brigade for the successful focused military operation.
He also recognized the significant contribution of the local populace by giving timely and accurate information that helped soldiers prevent the CNTs from casting terroristic activities in the area, a post in the 3ID’s official FB Page said.
“We are determined to employ all of our military assets to wipe the CNTs out from the communities. With the people on our side, we are committed to persistently pressing the communist-terrorists on the brink of downfall to end their decades-long cruelty finally,” Arevalo said.
It can be recalled that at 6:00 a.m. of December 1, 2021, the 301st Infantry Brigade, through its 61st Infantry Battalion and 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company, launched the said military operation in response to the information provided by concerned citi-
zens that a group of CPP-NPA terrorists, believed to be members of Suyak, Sentro de Grabedad (SDG) Platoon, Southern Front (SF)-Panay, is consolidating in the hinterland barangays of Miag-ao, Iloilo to plan their terroristic attacks and extortion activities.
As the encounter ensued, troops of 61IB and 31st DRC discovered that the CNT’s position was surrounded by anti-personnel mines (APM) to secure their hideout and protect their top leadership. (PIA6/Photo from 3ID DPAO)
