TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur - With the continuing crackdown against the remnants of the communist terrorist group (CTG), the 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB) under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade reportedly clashed with eight members of the communist party of the Philippines- new people's army (CPP-NPA) terrorists (CNTs) on July 8, 2023 at 10:00 p.m. in the vicinity of Sitio Libas, Barangay Sibahay, Lanuza in Surigao del Sur.
Civil-Military Operations (CMO) chief Capt. Reyzander Ga revealed that the government troops encountered the CTG believed to be the members of the composite squad of Platoon 1, Guerilla Front 30 (GF30) and Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16C (SPY16C), both under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
The army official further confirmed that the said encounter resulted in the death of one male CNT identified as Risam Gonzales Gam alias Kim/Miguel, a member of Squad 3, Sentro de Grabidad 16 (SDG16), NEMRC.
One AR15 assault rifle was also captured, including five steel magazines with 97 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition by the government troops of the 36IB at the encounter site, Capt. Ga revealed.
36IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Vincent M. Viray expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased member of the CTG. He immediately instructed the ground commander to retrieve the body, treat it with respect and dignity, and deliver the remains to the family.
Col. Viray, in a press statement stated that he believes that it is necessary to continue the conduct of the combat operations to run after, to save the remaining CTG members and to convince them to surrender to the government.
The 36IB, along with the local government units and partner agencies, aims to provide support and assistance to those CTGs who are willing to change their lives by returning to the folds of the law.
“The government is offering them a better life by reintegrating them into the mainstream society,” the official noted. (Nida Grace P. Barcena/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
