Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr, WestMinCom chief said they were able to neutralize a total of 66 NPA and gained a total of 63 assorted firearms from January 1 to March 31, 2022. Out of the 66, one was killed, three were apprehended, and 62 surrendered.
Meanwhile, a total of 49 members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) have also been neutralized and 37 firearms seized.
41 out of the 49 ASG members had surrendered, five were killed, and two were apprehended.
According to Rosario, the series of neutralization to include the influx of surrender weakened the firepower and capability of the terror group.
WestMinCom also recorded a decrease in the violent activities of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) due to the snowball in the number of members who returned to the folds of the law.
During the same period, 109 BIFF personalities yielded to the government forces in Central Mindanao. A total of 107 firearms were also handed over by the surrendered personalities to the military.
The armed capabilities of the Daulah Islamiyah (DI) were also weakened due to the neutralization of its remaining members. The Daulah Islamiyah is currently composed of the combined remnants of the Maute, Turaifie, and Hassan Groups.
For this group, 64 DI personalities were neutralized and 61 firearms seized.
“We are gaining ground because of the cooperation and support of the local government units and the different sectors of society and the swift reaction of troops to reports from civilians as to the whereabouts of our adversaries," Rosario said.
He said they will not stop until these menaces of society can no longer bring terror to the communities.
“We will hit them hard until they surrender and decide to return to the folds of the government,” he said.
Photo:WestMincom PIO
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