CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao del Norte – Two former combatants of the communist terrorist group, including a minor, have returned to the government in the town of Maitum, Sarangani Province.
Alias Mark, age 20, is a member of the Squad Segunda of the guerilla front Musa under the Far South Mindanao Region Command, and Alias Bunso, age 17, is a member of Platoon Dabu-Dabu, West daguma front, South. Regional Command under the weakening and disintegrating FSMRC.
They surrendered to the leadership of the 34th Infantry (Reliable) Battalion led by Lt. Col. Rey Rico and 38th Infantry (We Clear) Battalion led by Lt. Col. Michael Angelo Candole, this afternoon of December 5th, 2022.
They also carried in their surrender two high-class firearms that include an M16 A1 Rifle and a Cal.30 Garand Rifle along with magazines and ammunition.
According to the 1st Mechanized Infantry (Reliable) Brigade, Commander, Brigadier General Pedro Balisi Jr., that the conversion of the two is just an indication that peace is gradually prevailing in this part of Mindanao. “The security landscape in the area is changing and we are able to sustain the momentum”, said BGen. Balisi Jr.
The two former combatants were presented to the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) in the town of Maitum led by Hon. Alexander Bryan Reganit, the mayor of the municipality of Maitum.
In this regard, Major General Roy Galido, the Commander of the Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry (Army) Division assured the security of the surrendered rebels. “Our troops from the Joint Task Force Central continue to bolster our civil-military cooperation efforts with partner stakeholders to put an end to terrorism in Central and South-Central Mindanao and to convince the remaining terrorists to end their armed struggle and return to the mainstream society. Knowing if they are just victims of misinformation and deception”, said Maj. Gen. Galido.
It is estimated that 122 communist terrorist groups have surrendered since the month of January until now. As many as 135 different types of guns and explosives were seized from the various operating units of the Joint Task Force Central from the communist rebels.
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