Four suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA), including three wounded, were captured by authorities following a pursuit and checkpoint operation in Barangay Das-agan, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, around midnight on March 6.
Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, under the 401st Infantry Brigade, flagged down a vehicle carrying the four individuals, three of whom sustained injuries. They were immediately transported to Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Hospital for medical treatment while local police were notified.
Initial reports confirmed their involvement in a March 4 clash between the military and insurgents in Sitio Santa Fe, Barangay Magsaysay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, which left one NPA member dead and two firearms seized.
Among those captured was an individual with a pending criminal case. Authorities identified them as Michelle Campos, Aldren Baguio, Emelyn Acevido, and Jun Rey Tejero—all allegedly affiliated with the SRSDG, Southland, NEMRC.
Col. Emil Cruz, Acting Commander of the 401st Infantry Brigade, praised the troops for their efforts while ensuring medical care for the captured individuals. He urged remaining rebels to surrender and assured the military’s adherence to human rights and international humanitarian law in ongoing operations to dismantle insurgent networks in the region.
