APAT na high-ranking leaders ng Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) ang napatay sa naganap na matinding labanan sa Talakag, Bukidnon nang masabat sila ng mga tauhan ng AFP Eastern Mindanao Command, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army habang nagsasagawa ng focus military operation sa area.
Ayon kay EASTMINCOM commander, Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol nangyari ang engkuwentro sa KM24, Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag, Bukidnon, Barangay Tikalaan.
Kinilala ang apat na nasawi na sina Carlisio D. Sumalinog, Commanding Officer (CO) ng Sub-Regional Operations Command (SROC), Subregional Committee 4 (SRC4); Jovilito T. Pontillas, CO ng Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad (SRSDG) Company Wei, SRC4; Gary I. Juliana, CO ng Platun Uno, Guerilla Front (GF) 68B, SRC4; at Jelly A. Sugnot, Medical and Finance Officer ng SRSDG Company Wei. Pawang nasa ilalim sila ng communist terrorist group ng North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).
Narekober din sa lugar ang 16 na matataas na kalibre ng baril, mga bala at personal na gamit ng mga rebelde.
Ayon pa kay Almerol nagsasagawa ang kanyang mga tauhan ng operasyon nang maganap ang engkwentro na tumagal ng halos dalawang oras.
Naniniwala ang opisyal na malaking dagok sa mga rebelde ang pagkamatay ng kanilang apat na lider makaraang makasagupa ang Philippine Army’s 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn).
“Our troops who are conducting focused military operations, combined with intel units and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) of the Philippine National Police, immediately responded to the information to secure the area, resulting in almost two hours of firefight that led to the death of the four CTG leaders,” ani Lt. Gen. Almerol.
Kasabay nito ang kanyang panawagan sa mga natitirang rebelde sa rehiyon na sumuko at magbalik-loob na sa gobyerno.
Na recovered sa encounter site ang 16 na high-powered firearms na kinabibilangan ng pitong M16 Rifles, isang M203 Grenade Launcher, dalawang R4 Carbines, isang M653 Rifle, tatlong M1 Garand Rifles, isang AK47 Rifle, at isang M14 Rifle. Bukod pa sa ibat ibang magazines, ammunition, medicines, bandoliers, backpacks, at CTG flags na nasamsam ng mga sundalo.
Kaugnay nito ay inihayag ni Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) Chief of Staff General Andres C Centino, “Our efforts in reducing the CTG’s resources in terms of manpower, firepower, and money collected through extortion denied their members of mobility, communication, and other equipment, which made them vulnerable to our operating troops.”
“ The lack of resources complemented by our troop’s deployment in their guerilla bases limits their movement resulting in decisive engagements such as this latest success of the 1SFBn under the 403rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army,” dagdag pa ni Gen. Centino. (VICTOR BALDEMOR)
