4ID neutralizes 4 CTG Leaders, 14 others, yields 13 firearms

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City – The 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, has neutralized four (4) high-ranking CTG leaders and 14 members for the month of June 2022.

The surrendered CTG elements are Sarwin Ellonor Villamor and wife Jesel Bato Salahay. Both operate in the hinterlands of Agusan Del Norte and Agusan Del Sur. They turned themselves to the 65th Infantry Battalion at Mahaba, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte on June 17, 2022, bringing along with them one (1) cal. 45 pistol and ammunitions.

On the other hand, a pregnant CTG member Charmaine Ravelo Coquilla, also surrendered to 36IB on June 14, 2022 in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte.  She wants her incoming child to live a peaceful life. Her partner, Dexter Umba, also a CTG member, was killed in an encounter on April 14, 2022.

Meanwhile, on June 9, another CTG member, Raymart Untua, surrendered to the 3rd Special Forces Battalion based in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, while on June 10, another CTG member, Zeth Melloria, surrendered to 30th Infantry Battalion in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte. Untua revealed an arms cache that led to the recovery of two (2) 5.56mm Rifles and one (1) M203 40mm Grenade Launcher.

Its hardship and resentment against the CTG’s false promises that forced the two (2) Militia ng Bayan members to surrender to 65IB. They also revealed an arms cache which contained two (2) M16 Rifles with magazines and several ammunitions at the hinterlands of Brgy. Tagbongabong, Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan Del Norte on June 8, 2022. It can be recalled that eleven (11) remnants of a CTG splinter group operating in Bukidnon, peacefully surrendered with their seven (7) firearm, to the 1st Special Forces Battalion on June 6, 2022 in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

In a statement, 4ID Commander MGen Wilbur C Mamawag, stated that the whole JTF Diamond will continue to accept surrenderers, to give them a second chance at life.  Since January 2022, there had been 110 surrenderers yielding 76 firearms, totaling to 2, 321 the number of surrendered CTGs in the AO, with a significant number already enrolled in the E-CLIP program since 2016. “We reiterate our call for the CTG remnants to lay down their arms. They should go back to their families, avail of government programs such as the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), and lead peaceful lives,” Maj. Gen. Mamawag added.