Tacloban City (March 16) -- The serious campaign against insurgency of the operatives of the 19th Infantry Battalion based at Kananga, Leyte continues to reap success.

On March 12, 2008, Cris Sister alias Gary or John Paul, a vice squad leader of squad "Abe", Buhawi Platoon of Mount Amandewin Command of the North Leyte Front, was captured by the operative of the 19th Infantry Battalion at Poblacion, Carigara, Leyte.

This was reported by First Lieutenant Luel Adrian Benedicto, information officer of the 19th IB who disclosed that the captured communist terrorist leader voluntarily gave his commitment to return to the folds of law and revealed the exact location of an NPA arms cache.

With this information, Lt. Colonel Henry Bumiltac, the commanding officer of 19th IB immediately instructed First Lieutenant Alberto Dabajo to lead two squads of reaction force to locate the arms cache.

On March 14, 2008, together with Alias Gary who volunteered to be the guide, the reaction force proceeded towards Sitio Tahad, Brgy Mataloto, Leyte, Leyte where the arms cache was located.

The Troop recovered two (2) M16 Armalite Rifles with serial numbers 4889446 Colt and 013028 RP with two (2)magazines short with live ammunition and one (1) M14 Rifle bearing with serial number 906618 with five (5) magazines with live ammunition.

The cooperation of Alias Gary/John Paul is a big squirm on the terrorists' capacity and capability to create atrocities that hampers the development in Leyte.

Alias Gary bared that many of his former comrades who once carried the recovered firearms, are now on lie-low status and are now planning to formally surrender to live a normal life, out of fear.

The worst, Alias Gary continued, is that his other comrades were killed in encounters and yet their families were not even informed.

Alias Gary even narrated the hardship he and his comrades experienced, hiding in the mountains with lack of food supplies, personal items, and even with the presence of sexual abuses by their leaders. They didn't even have the chance to visit their families for a long time.

Lt. Colonel Bumiltac commended the troop of the 19th IB for the successful conduct of the operations. He called on the remnants of the CPP/NPA/NDF to stop becoming victims of propaganda and return to the folds of law and live normal lives with their families.

Lt. Colonel Bumiltac stressed that most of the remaining NPA leaders and members are now contemplating on returning to the folds of the law due to hardships and difficulties they are encountering due to the pressure of the military's campaign. Revelations from rebel returnees indicates that personal motives of it's leaders creates factionalism and disintegration among themselves.

Colonel Allan Martin, the 802nd Deputy Brigade Commander cited the troops' initiative that continually contributes to the attainment of peace and development in Leyte and decisively crash out insurgency problem in the province.

"The 19th IB will gradually eliminate insurgency in a humane manner to make a stand that military is pro humanity. Let's achieve peace and make a way for a more progressive Leyte," Colonel Martin stressed.

Meanwhile. Major General Armando L. Cunanan, the Commanding General of 8th Infantry Division, congratulated the troops of 802nd Brigade and 19IB for sustaining the continuous campaign to successfully achieve their mission. (PIA 8)