PLACER, Surigao del Norte — Government forces scored another victory against the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) after recovering a cache of high-powered firearms and war materials in Surigao del Sur, while two CTG members voluntarily surrendered in Agusan del Norte.
Troops from the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) discovered the hidden arms cache in the hinterlands of Lobo, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on October 11, 2025. The recovered items included one Bushmaster rifle, one M16 rifle, one grenade launcher, four barrels of caliber .50, several rounds of ammunition for caliber .50 and AK-47, 31 AK-47 magazines, and an improvised explosive device (IED).
The location of the cache was revealed by alias Rem and alias Agreb, both members of Platun 1, SRSDG Westland, who surrendered last July 2025 to Lieutenant Colonel Albert Batingga, Commanding Officer of the 30IB.
Meanwhile, two other CTG members, identified as alias Kyle and alias Vic, from the vertical units of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC), surrendered to Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tabon, Commanding Officer of the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) at their headquarters in Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, on October 16, 2025.
According to Colonel Manuel Darius M. Resuello, Acting Commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, these developments reflect the continued decline of the CTGs in both manpower and firepower. He noted that the recovery of firearms and war materials in Surigao del Sur indicates a reduction in their logistical strength, while the surrender in Agusan del Norte shows deteriorating morale and dwindling support from their mass bases.
Colonel Resuello reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to safeguarding communities and ending the insurgency in the Caraga region. He stressed that through a whole-of-nation approach and cooperation among stakeholders, lasting peace and development are within reach.
Both the 29IB and 30IB operate under the 901st Infantry Brigade and the Joint Task Force Diamond of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, in their mission to secure peace and stability across Caraga.