2 alleged CTG members die in clash with soldiers

By Ana-Liza Macatangay

PILI, Camarines Sur --- Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) Chief and Spokesperson Major John Paul Belleza confirmed the neutralization of 1 Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) leader and one member in yet another successful military operation in Barangay Cawayan, Masbate City on Oct. 28, Friday.

In a press statement, Belleza said that while TS Paeng pounces the region with torrential rain, members of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police Bicol Regional Office were busy responding to civilians’ tip of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members lurking in the said barangay.

“Lt. Col. Orlando Ramos Jr., Commander of 2IB, confirmed that one of the casualties was a leader of Militiang Bayan (MB), while the other one was a member of Platoon 1, Kilusang Larangan Guerilla 2, Komiteng Probinsiya 4 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee (L2, KP4, BRPC),” Belleza added.

Responding government troops also recovered one M653 rifle, one caliber 38 revolver, two backpacks, one laptop, and several terroristic propaganda materials.

The latest encounter happened just 2 days after the 2nd Infantry Battalion discovered the training facility in Masbate and seized numerous firearms.

903rd Infantry Brigade Commannder BGen. Aldwine Almase said that just like the past incidents, the tip-off was coming from civilians who can no longer tolerate the presence of CTG members and who have grown weary of their continuous terroristic acts.

“Naniniwala po ako na dahil sa patuloy na suporta ng mga Masbateño sa tropa natin sa probinsya, lalo na ang mga opisyales ng mga komunidad ay mapapadali natin ang pagsugpo sa mga natitira pang armadong grupo,” Almase said.

Joint Task Force Bicolandia and 9th Infantry Division Commander MGen Luna said that the countless triumphs of the government troops through the help of the community are manifestations that CTG members in Masbate are slowly losing their ground.

“Muli ko pong bibigyan ng diin ang aming panawagan sa mga natitira pang mga armado na samantalahin na nila ang pagkakataon upang magbalik loob sa gobyerno. Ayaw na po natin madagdagan pa ang bilang ng mga buhay na nawawala dahil sa walang kwentang pinaglalaban ‘nyo. Hindi 'nyo (CTG) matatalo ang pwersa ng gobyerno sapagkat nasa panig na namin ang mga tao. Hihintayin kayo ng mga pamilya ninyo ngayong pasko.” Luna said. (With reports from DPAO-JPBellezaPA-PIA5/Camarines Sur)