Manila, June 20 -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday lauded the 901st Infantry Brigade (IBde) for its successful operations against New People's Army (NPA) insurgents in the Caraga Region.

In a news release on Friday, the AFP said Brawner visited the brigade's headquarters in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Placer, Surigao del Norte, where he recognized the unit for neutralizing an NPA leader and, most recently, five NPA remnants in Caraga.

The AFP chief was referring to Roderick Maco Bensing, the leader of the NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, who was killed during military operations in Placer town on June 15.

The troops also recovered five high-powered firearms, one low-powered firearm, ...