Female Soldiers Take Down NPA Lair in High-Risk Bukidnon Operation
NPA – The Philippine Army achieved a major breakthrough as a team of female troops uncovered a hidden NPA camp in Bukidnon.
The Philippine Army reported a significant operational gain in Bukidnon as part of its ongoing campaign to dismantle the remaining strongholds of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindanao.
On Thursday, military officials described the development as a “combat breakthrough,” following a successful mission in the remote hinterlands of Sitio Bendum, Barangay Busdi in Malaybalay City. The operation, conducted earlier this week, led to the discovery of a hidden cache of firearms in what was believed to be a former guerrilla forward camp.
Among the items recovered were two 7.62mm CZ 858 tactical rifles, one 7.62mm M14 rifle, one 5.56mm M4 rifle, and a barrel of an M16A1 rifle. The discovery is seen as a strategic gain, weakening the operational capacity of rebel forces in the area.
The mission was carried out by a specialized all-women unit from the Army’s First Special Forces Battalion. Known as Special Forces Team 16 “Maya,” the group is headed by Capt. Cristy Timtim, alongside fellow officers 1Lt. Divine Grace Rodriguez and 2Lt. Leslie Calunsag. They were supported by four enlisted personnel and a member of the CAFGU Civilian Active Auxiliary.
The team’s entry into the Pantaron mountain range—a region renowned for its challenging terrain and history as a rebel stronghold—marks a crucial step in penetrating areas previously considered inaccessible. The location is believed to be a key sanctuary of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA.
“This area is considered a major stronghold and sanctuary of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the NPA, strategically located along the hinterland boundary of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur,” Lt. Col. Emil Bautista, commanding officer of the First Special Forces Battalion, told the Inquirer.
Bautista emphasized that the deployment of an all-female combat team highlights the expanding responsibilities of women in military operations. He said the mission’s outcome demonstrated not only effectiveness in execution but also “resilience, discipline and combat readiness in a challenging and high-risk environment.”
Major Gen. Michele Anayron, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, echoed this sentiment, noting that female soldiers are now being actively deployed in combat zones where focused military operations are ongoing.
“We are exposing female soldiers to combat operations in that area where our current focused military operations are ongoing,” Anayron said.
According to Bautista, Team Maya also plays a vital role in sustained operations against the remnants of the NCMRC, reportedly led by Julia Cagadas, also known as “Rheda” and “Kayuka.” He added that the unit previously served as “essential support personnel” during recovery operations for a crashed Air Force fighter jet in Mt. Kalatungan.
“This accomplishment further reflects the Philippine Army’s commitment to gender equality and the integration of women into critical combat and leadership roles, strengthening operational effectiveness across all units,” Bautista said.
He pointed out that this kind of combat team is an unprecedented addition to the Army.
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