SUCCESSFUL OPS. Brig. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio (left), 402Bde commander; Brig. Gen. Francisco Lorenzo (center), commander of 401Bde; and Brig. Gen. Arsenio Sadural, commander of 901Bde, present the accomplishments of the Philippine Army in the Caraga Region as of the first quarter of 2024, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas in Butuan City on Tuesday (Aug. 13, 2024). The three officers reported a significant decrease in the manpower and firearms capabilities of the New People’s Army in the area. (Photo courtesy of PIA-13)
BUTUAN CITY – The massive operations implemented by three Philippine Army infantry brigades have resulted in the dismantling of structures of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and the weakening of its fighting capabilities in the Caraga region.
The 402nd Infantry Brigade (402Bde), the 401Bde, and the 901Bde reported this during Tuesday's Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press forum in this city.
Brig. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of 402Bde, said his command confronted the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
“The 402Bde has three battalions: the 23rd Infantry Battalion (IB), the 28IB, and the 58IB. We cover the areas of West Butuan City, four towns in Agusan del Norte all in the Caraga Region, and parts of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Camiguin in Northern Mindanao region,” Orio said.
Starting in 2021, he said, the brigade confronted the forces of NCMRC and its operating formations, supported by 188 rebels and 249 firearms. Through focused military operations, the 402Bde was able to conduct 136 operations, which resulted in 71 encounters.
He added that as of the first quarter of this year, at least 36 NPA rebels were killed during the series of encounters, 128 had surrendered, including mass base supporters, 10 were captured, and 187 firearms were seized.
Meanwhile, the 401Bde said in the first quarter, Regional Sentro De Grabidad had 13 combatants and 13 firearms remaining; the Sub-Regional Committee Southland had 20 rebels and 44 firearms., and the Sub-Regional Sentro del Grabidad Southland had nine rebels and 12 firearms.
“The 401Bde is mandated to implement peace, law enforcement, and development support programs in its AORs (areas of responsibility) to destroy units of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) of the NPA,” said Brig. Gen. Francisco Lorenzo, commander of 401Bde.
On the other hand, the 901Bde said it managed to reduce the NEMRC's capabilities in its AORs, particularly in parts of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, and Dinagat Islands.
As of the second quarter of 2024, the 901Bde said it has significantly reduced NEMRC's combatants to 76 and its firearms capabilities to 33.
Likewise, the 901Bde dismantled the Guerrilla Front (FG) 16, GF-21, and GF-30 through a series of operations. Of the areas the brigade covers, the Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte are now declared insurgency-free. (PNA)
