Agusan Sur town skirmish leaves 2 NPA rebels dead

Two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with government forces in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, the military said Tuesday.

In a statement, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said combined troopers of the Army’s 401st Infantry and the 901st Brigades (Bde) were dispatched to Bayugan’s Barangay San Juan after receiving reports of 18 armed NPA insurgents in the area.

“The 15-minute firefight has resulted in the death of two un- identified NPA combatants and the capture of high-powered firearms and ammunition,” the 4ID said, referring to the predawn clash in Barangay San Juan on Monday.

The recovered firearms included an M4 Carbine rifle, a modified Carbine rifle, various ammunition and magazines, and personal belongings of the guerrillas.

Brig. Gen. Rommel Almaria, 401Bde commander, attributed the operation’s success to the cooperation among various gov- ernment line agencies and the local government units (LGUs) in the area under the Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC).

“Our partnership with the agencies and the LGUs under the TF-ELCAC is the centerpiece of our campaign to defeat the communist rebels,” Almaria was quoted in the statement as saying.

In a separate statement, Brig. Gen. George Banzon, 901Bde commander, commended the Army troopers for “effectively

In a statement furnished to MindaNews Tuesday, Mohagher Iqbal, MILF peace implementing panel chair, reciprocated President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s stance on the Bangsamoro peace process.

In a video message during the CAB’s ninth anniversary commemoration at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Monday, Marcos vowed that the commitments made by the national government under the CAB “will be realized.”

“We in the national government will do our part to fulfill our commitments under the peace agreement and see its full implementation. We shall not waver from this,” he said.

Iqbal said the MILF salutes the President “for his firm resolve and commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreement.”

“In return, we promise the President that we will do everything to fulfill our part of the agreement. We shall direct our people and supporters to cooperate and ensure peace,” Iqbal said.

“Political will be reciprocated by political will,” he added.

Iqbal said that “while there are miles to go before peace is achieved in the southern Philippines, in this journey, we offer the President that the MILF shall

The Bangsamoro region was established in 2019 following the ratification of Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the BARMM. The creation of the Bangsamoro region is the key component of the CAB. It replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, concurrent MILF chair, declared Monday a special non-working holiday in the BARMM to celebrate the CAB’s ninth anniversary.

In his speech at the PICC, Ebrahim noted that the signing of the CAB “paved the way for correcting historical injustice, systematic oppression and discrimination committed against the proud people of the southern Philippines.”

“Let us all reflect on the progress we have made since the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014 and the difficulties that lie ahead in achieving lasting peace in the Bangsamoro region,” Ebrahim said.

He added that this is an opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue and exchanges of ideas toward the goal of promoting inclusive growth, participation and human development in the region.

“Let us seize this opportunity to learn from one another and work towards a better future for the Bangsamoro people. With the