NPA leader nabbed
A top leader of the New People’s Army - Milisya ng Bayan (NPA-MB) was arrested and a rebel was killed while several high-powered firearms and ammunitions were recovered by the combined effort of the police and troops after a series of encounter on Thursday, August 3.
According to 10th Infantry Division (ID) spokesperson Rhyan Batchar, the high-ranking leader of the NPA-MB under Guerilla Front 51 who was nabbed around 1 a.m. during a dawn operation was identified as Ariel Rebuta alias Siring after the joint Army-Police
team from the 39IB, Special Action Force (Saf) and Cotabato Provincial Police Office (CPPO) implemented the arrest warrant against him used by the local court.
The government troops seized three M16 armalite rifles, 1,500 rounds of ammunition, and an IED with detonating switch in his possession. Rebuta was arrested for illegal possession of unlicensed firearms in Purok Centro, Brgy Biangan, Makilala, North Cotabato and was brought to Makilala Police for filing of appropriate charges.
On the same day at around 10:40 a.m., another encounter ensued between the 73IB and a group of NPA rebels at Sitio Malbag, Barangay Little Baguio, Malita, Davao Occidental which resulted to the fatality of a communist rebel while the other NPA rebels fled to an unknown direction and left an M16 armalite rifle.
Colonel Roberto Ancan, 1002nd Infantry Brigade commanders lauded the operating troops for the successful operation and acknowledged the significance of public’s cooperation in preventing further atrocities to be perpetrated by the lawless armed group (LAG).
"The information given by the populace in maintaining peace and order plays a vital role in the success of the operation," said Colonel Roberto Ancan, the 1002nd Infantry Brigade commander.
Meanwhile, a series of armed encounters involving the troops of 25IB and the NPA rebels belonging to Guerilla Front (GF) 33 and Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 4 also erupted at around 6:55 a.m.
Batchar added that the troops engaged in a 15-minute firefight against around 20 NPA combatants at Purok 6, Mayaon, Montevista, Compostela Valley Province. Engaged troops initially recovered four M16 armalite rifles, one M14 rifle, two M1 grenade rifles, one M2 carbine rifle, one caliber .38 pistol, several personal belongings, and subversive documents left by the fleeing rebels.
On that same day, a separate group of soldiers from 25IB who were running after the fleeing rebels from the earlier Montevista, Compostela Valley had a firefight with NPA rebels.
The incident led to the recovery by the 25IB troops of additional high-powered firearms comprising two M16 armalite rifle, two M14 rifle, two M1 garand rifle, one AK47 rifle, an IED and several NPA personal belongings.
Lieutenant Colonel Ismale Mandanas, commander of the 25th IB said that during the encounter two soldiers sustained a slight wound while the fleeing NPA rebels were believed to have suffered heavy casualties as manifested by bloodstains seen in the encounter site.
Meanwhile, Major General Noel Clement, 10ID commander hailed the troops of 25IB and the joint 39IB-Cotabato Police and 73IB for their accomplishment and urged them to continue with their mandate in protecting the communities vulnerable for any harassments.
"While we address the armed threats, we shall also intensify our support to the local government units by establishing communities that are conflict-resilient through our Community Support Program (CSP)," Clement said.