2 Communist Terrorist Leaders and war materiel seized by authorities in Western Mindanao Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City In a joint military-police operation, two communist terrorists and several war materials of the bandits were seized in Pagadian City last Saturday (November 18). Leonardo Decena Jacotin and Rosario Delambaca Tabanao were arrested by virtue of a search warrant served by composite elements of the Joint Task Force ZamPelan and the Philippine National Police. Seized from them were a Caliber .45 pistol with eight live rounds of ammunition, 50 rounds of ammunition for AK47, a hand grenade, 10 identification cards, and 17 cellular phones.
Said search warrant was served at their residence in Barangay Balangasan, Pagadian City at 9:45pm Saturday.
Jacotin is the logistic and head of the Ordnance and Explosives of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).
He is involved in large-scale extortion activities and dealing of illegal firearms and explosives. Tabanao is an executive commission member of the WMRPC/Regional Finance and Sub-Finance KOMMID in Pagadian City.
She is involved in robbery and extortion, series of murder cases, and dealing of illegal firearms and explosives.
Tabanao has an existing arrest warrant for the complex crime of direct assault with murder and robbery with use of unlicensed firearms.
"Towards the liberation of Marawi City, the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan intensifies the security campaign against the CPP-NPA-NDF, particularly against the WMRPC in Zamboanga Peninsula," said Brigadier General Roseller Murillo, commander of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan. Jacotin and Tabanao were brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 9 for proper disposition and appropriate legal procedures.
Meanwhile, soldiers of the 44th Infantry Battalion were able to recover assorted war materiel while on combat operation earlier Sunday (November 19).
Troops jumped-off from their headquarters at past 3 in the morning after they received information that armed men believed to be Communist Terrorists were seen at the vicinity of the boundary between Brgy Tigbangagan and Palinta, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay Province.
The operating troops found fresh tracks and followed the those towards an abandoned harbor area. Immediately, a search and clearing operation followed resulting to the discovery of the following: one (1) M203 grenade launcher (defaced SN); one (1) 7.62mm sniper rifle (bolt action); nine (9) rds for 40m M203 ammunitions; sixty (60) rds for M14 ammunitions; four (4) M14 magazines; one (1) black bandoleers; and, one (1) rifle grenade.
“It is believed that the said war materiel were hidden by the CTs after they heard the approaching soldiers,” said Brigadier General Jacinto Bareng, commander of the 102nd Brigade.
“The recovered firearms and war materiel were brought by the troops at the battalion headquarters of 44IB for documentation prior its turn-over to the PNP,” BGen Bareng added.
Recently, units were able to monitor the elements of CPP-NPA-NDF's WMRPC intensifying their recruitment and expansion activities in some areas of Zamboanga Sibugay Province.
“JTF ZAMPELAN through our 102nd Bde have also been working doubly in order to thwart recruitment and terror activities of these Communist Terrorists operating in the area,” said Brigadier General Murillo.
“The capture of two Communists Terrorists Leaders under the said party committee is indicative of your soldier’s intensified campaign.”
“The CPP/NPA terrorists have no place here in Western Mindanao. They extort money even from poor people and burn commercial establishments and construction equipment if their demands are not met,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
"Ground troops will continue to collaborate with the police in the conduct of law enforcement support operation to ensure the defeat of communist terrorists operating in our joint area of operations.”
“I would like to congratulate our policemen and the soldiers under JTF Zampelan for this noteworthy accomplishment,” the WestMinCom Chief added.
