The 402nd Brigade in a statement said, the troopers encountered an estimated 15 NPA members under Platoon Sagay, Southern Regional Committee (SRC) 3 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCRMC) in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
The communist rebels were identified as Rey Torregosa, 24, a resident of Barangay Maasin, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur and Juliven Badbaran, 41, a resident of Barangay Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur, both belonging to SRC3, NCRMC.
Soldiers seized an RPK LMG ; AK47 Rifle; M16 Rifle; Anti-Personnel Mine (APM); several magazines; NPA flags; subversive documents; and assorted personal belongings.
Brigadier General Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of 402nd Brigade said that the communist terrorist group (CTG) in Agusan del Norte are now struggling and suffering overwhelming losses in the series of encounters from the past years which will certainly lead to the neutralization of their leaders and members.
Orio lauded his team for the recent accomplishment, adding the successful conduct of their combat operation was a result of careful planning, excellent intelligence and strategy with flawless execution of its capable leaders and soldiers.
Orio has called on all the remaining CTG members to lay down their arms and return to the folds of law to live peacefully and be with their families.
“As we have vowed to protect our people, we will continue to hunt the enemies down and remain true to our mandate of sustaining the peace and development in the area of Agusan del Norte,” Orio said.
Photo from 402nd Brigade