Army Lauds Troops for ISO Successes
The Philippine Army commends its troops for its continuing successes in
its Internal Security Operations (ISO) campaign, the most recent of
which is the encounter with New People’s Army rebels in Oriental Mindoro
resulting to the killing of two NPA rebels.
On June 27, joint elements of the 4th Infantry Battalion under 2Lt
Molina and the Philippine National Police forces headed by P/SInps
Hebron, engaged more or less 15 armed communist terrorists in Sitio
Boluntad, Brgy Sta Teresita, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. The 10-minute
encounter led to the killing of a certain Christopher Barrientos @ Ka
Olip and Ulysees Galario @ Ka Mike. Ka Olip is the Vice Platoon Leader
of KLG 1, ISLACOM while Ka Mike is the logistics officer.
The troops also recovered from the encounter site one M14 rifle, one cal
.45 pistol, other war materials including blasting caps, ammunition,
magazines, bandoleers, documents and personal belongings.
Col Carlos F Quita, 203rd Brigade commander, lauded the troops, the PNP
elements and the intelligence personnel who worked for the success of
the operation, "Our joint successful operation for the past several days
highlight the importance of intelligence and collaboration between the
Army and the PNP. Continue the good work and be proud of our unit," said
Col Quita.
Earlier, on 25 June, elements of the 1st Infantry Battalion recovered an
arms cache consisting of five M16 rifles, one 9mm pistol, more or less
1,000 rounds of ammunition and bandoleers containing magazines in Brgy
Maragondon, Real, Quezon. Said firearms were believed to have been
buried by the Regional Yunit Guerilla due to the dwindling number of
willing recruits.
Both the 1st and the 4th Infantry Battalions belong to the 2nd Infantry
Division under the leadership of MGen Jorge Segovia.
Meanwhile, elements of the 25th Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry
Division led by 1Lt Beran and 1Lt Araiz encountered more or less 50
communist terrorists last 26 June at Sitio Carampel, Brgy Aliwagwag,
Cateel which resulted to the killing of two communist terrorist members
and the recovery of four M16 rifles, two carbine rifles, four banned
landmines and communist documents. The 10th Infantry Division has been
pursuing the rebels responsible for the successive attacks against
civilian communities and the kidnapping of a soldier and a CAFGU member.
Army chief Lt Gen Reynaldo B Mapagu has directed Army commanders to
sustain the ISO tempo despite earlier AFP admissions of difficulty in
meeting the June 30 counterinsurgency deadline. The units of the
Philippine Army remain undeterred and ever-focused in the campaign to
further degrade the armed capability of the communist terrorist group. #
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