CALAMBA, Misamis Occidental (PIA)--The 10th Infantry Battalion and Guerilla Front Sendong of the CPP-NPA were locked in intense combat in the hinterlands of Calamba, Misamis Occidental, March 24-26, 2023.

During the fight, Romnick Alvarez, a 27-year-old member of the NPA from Dilod, Dumingag, Zamboanga Del Sur, was shot and wounded.

Despite his calls for help, his comrades left him alone and exposed. He managed to drag himself to safety through sheer force of will.

On March 26, 2023, a team from the 10th Infantry Battalion conducted a civil-military operations (CMO) loudspeaker operation in a nearby barangay.

Romnick decided to surrender when he heard his old friend's voice over the loudspeaker. He made his way to the loudspeaker team and eventually arrived at a civilian's house at around 7:30 a.m.

He asked the homeowner where the closest soldier was and said he wanted to surrender.

The CMO and Intel teams of the 10IB moved quickly and got to the scene to help the injured fighter. They took care of his wounds, fed and hydrated him, and took him to the nearest hospital. Fortunately, Romnick is now in stable condition.

LTC Jose Andre Monje, the 10IB commanding officer, expressed his gratitude to the locals for their assistance in providing information about the rebels.

He urged the remaining fighters to surrender, assuring them that their human rights would be upheld and they would be welcomed back into a lawful society with open arms.

COL Elmer Suderio, INF (GSC) PA, the 102nd brigade commander, called upon the NPA members still hiding in the mountains to abandon their arms and embrace a peaceful life.

He highlighted the government's willingness to provide various support programs to assist in integrating them into mainstream society. 

He also told the troops that any NPA who got hurt should get the best medical care possible because they are not considered enemies.
MGEN Antonio Nafarrete, PA, the Commander of JTF ZAMPELAN, appealed to the remaining members of GF SENDONG to surrender and assured them of essential aid and medical attention through the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC).

The recent events in Calamba, Misamis Occidental, underscore the government's commitment to ending the long-standing conflict with the CPP-NPA and integrating its members into mainstream society. (10th IB/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)