SAN LUIS, Agusan del Sur -- Four assorted high-powered and low-powered firearms with ammunitions were captured by the troops of the 26th Infantry  Battalion (26IB) under the operational control of 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, during an encounter with more or less 15 New People's Army (NPA) rebels while conducting focused military operations (FMO) at Sitio Mentakee Brgy. Binicalan, San Luis of the province on December 26, 2021.

The encounter transpired at around 11 o'clock in the morning and lasted for 10 minutes which resulted in the capture of one M79 grenade launcher, one M16 rifle, one Caliber 45 pistol, one Caliber 38 pistol, three magazines with ammunition and one civilian bag.

The NPA is considered as the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and it is believed that they will increase hostilities through attacks against the government especially the security forces, telecommunication facilities, plantations, and other agro-industrial sites. 

The presence of the armed group who are members of the HQS LOADER, SRC2 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee was compromised by a concerned civilian informant confirming their location, to which the military forces immediately responded through the conduct of intensified military operations in order to suppress their atrocities and gatherings in connection with their 53rd founding anniversary.  

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, commanding officer of 26IB, expressed his gratitude to the concerned residents of Brgy. Binicalan for their active support and cooperation to the government troops. 

“Indeed, the terrorists were desperate to conduct terrorist attacks to harass the community and I thank the residents of Brgy. Binicalan for their active support and cooperation that led us to disrupt their planned atrocities. The 26IB is on high alert through increased patrols, checkpoints, and strengthened security in its area of operations to prevent the NPA's threat of violence during its anniversary. We have deployed our troops for an intensified military operation. We will not allow these terrorists to mark their anniversary with any atrocities,” said Goce.

"The capture of the rebels' firearms only shows that the Communist Party of the Philippines -New People's Army (CPP-NPA) is weakening and the AFP has continued its duty to end the conflict. The government is winning the war against these terrorists and we will not allow them any room to celebrate their anniversary," Goce added. (2Lt Cecille C. Tappa, CMO Officer, 26IB, PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)