One New People’s Army (NPA) member was killed while two high-powered firearms were seized during separate encounters with government troops on the morning of July 9 in Agusan del Norte.
The Philippine Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion responded to reports from residents about armed rebels conducting extortion and recruitment activities in a remote area of Agusan del Norte. A brief two-minute firefight followed, forcing the remaining NPA members to flee and resulting in the recovery of one M16 rifle.
Around 7:30 a.m. the same day, pursuing troops engaged the fleeing group again. The five-minute gunfight led to the death of an unidentified NPA member and the capture of another firearm, an R4 rifle.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tabon, commander of the 29IB, credited the success of the operation to the timely tip-off from civilians and former rebels supporting peace initiatives in the region.
Major General Michele Anayron Jr., commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, praised the swift military response. He said the operation further weakened the NPA’s capacity to carry out violence.
Anayron called on remaining NPA members to surrender and return to civilian life. “Otherwise, our troops will relentlessly hunt them down to prevent them from harming innocent civilians,” he warned.
