Bgy. Kalandagan, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat
June 7, 2017
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited Camp Leono in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat and talked to the troops of the 1st Mechanized Infantry (Maaasahan) Brigade (1Mech Bde).
Commander of 1Mech Brigade Col. Bismarck Soliba gave the Commander-in-Chief a situation briefing and showed President Duterte the surrendered high-powered firearms recovered through the different operations initiated by the men and women of 1Mech Bde.
The firearms included in the display are the following: surrendered firearms of ten (10) members of Platoon Myphone GF73 under the alias of ‘George’ to the troops of 1st Mech. Infantry Battalion wherein four (4) members surrendered on June 1, 2017, and another six (6) on June 6, 2017.
Results from the Law Enforcement Support Operations (LESO) against the drug trafficking group of Abdulatip Pendaliday, aka ‘Grasscutter’ in Sitio Langag, Barangay Kabuling, Pandag, Maguindanao on May 11, 2017 included one apprehended personality, three (3) body counts, two (2) ELISCO M16A1 with SN 4713909 and 250569, three (3) M203 GL with SN 271367, 212171 and defaced serial number, one US rifle M16A1 with SN 4735697, and one M79 HM.
Through the LESO against the group of Jaiton Camsa and Aisa Camsa at Sitio Mantisao, Barangay Chua in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat on May 18, 2017, the operations resulted to one apprehended personality and one ELISCO M16A1 with SN 055688.
Also during the conduct of counter insurgency operation against Platoon Myphone of GF73 NPA under ‘George’ last June 1, 2017 at Sitio Sinuksok in Barangay Bugso, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat, there was a recovery of one unit caliber 30M1 Carbine with SN 6117701 and one customized M1GARAND without serial number.
Another counter insurgency operation by the Platoon Cherry mobile of GF73 under ‘Yohan’ wherein eleven (11) members of GF73 NPA surrendered to the troops of 33IB and 57IB, 6ID of the Philippine Army bringing eight (8) high powered firearms last May 21, 2017. The operation resulted to the recovery of the following: one AR15 SN 281518 and three (3) bushmaster SN L263447, 226407 and L573627.
Other surrendered and/or recovered firearms from the operations conducted from January 2017 to June 2017 are the following: one M16A1 (ELISCO) with SN RP022962 with four (4) short steel magazines and 21-round ammunitions, one M14 US rifle with SN 5788183 with two (2) magazines and twenty three (23) rounds of 7.62MM ammunitions, one M14 rifle (converted to Springfield) without SN with one steel magazine and six (6) rounds ammunitions, one Springfield rifle without five (5) rounds of caliber .30 MM ammunitions,, one 40MM M79 with SN 562475 and two (2) rounds ammunitions, five (5) long barrel homemade shotguns with two (2) steel long magazines and seven (7) rounds ammunitions.
In his message, the President expressed his gratitude for the accomplishments and the contribution of the 1st Mechanized Brigade in the ongoing insurgency in Marawi City.
“I came here to personally recognize the valuable contribution of the 1st Mechanized brigade in our efforts to neutralize the enemy. As reinforcement of our operations in Marawi, we have already dispatched the infantry company of the 1st Mechanized Brigade composed of officers–three officers, 62 enlisted men, personnel and armored vehicles,” he said.
“A s we retake the beautiful City of Marawi from the clutches of the enemy I call upon our troops to remain steadfast in performing their sworn duty to protect our people. I ask you to never waiver in your commitment to defend the Republic from all threats especially of terrorism, criminality, and insurgency,” the President ended.
* * *