Soldiers overrun Abra NPA camp

BAGUIO CITY  , Philippines  — Government troopers overran a New People’s Army (NPA) camp in Abra on Thursday  following a gunfight that left a soldier wounded. 

Pvt. Dondon Dagdag was hit by shrapnel from a rifle-propelled grenade.

Personnel of the 7th Infantry Division’s Alpha Company were checking reports that the rebels were planning to attack a police station and had massed up in Barangay Gapang when the clash occurred.

 Lt. Col. Dominic Baluga, 24th Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said several rebels were either killed or wounded in the encounter.

The seized rebel camp has 14 tents and two bunkers. Soldiers also recovered several guns, rechargeable flashlights, a transistor radio, five jungle bolos, cooking paraphernalia and personal belongings from the rebels.

In South Cotabato, suspected NPA guerrillas carted away merchandise worth more than P300,000 from a store in Barangay Klubi,  Lake Sebu on Wednesday.

 Senior Inspector Rene Dale Cairel said they are preparing the charges to be filed against the rebels who were reportedly led by a certain Elmer Lasib.

The robbery followed the arrest of NPA rebels extorting money from merchants in Kidapawan City earlier this week.

10 rebels surrender

In Albay, 10 NPA rebels surrendered to the 901st IB in Daraga on Thursday.

Known only by their aliases Erik, Jack, Jing, Cris, Andoy, Mando, Sheryl, Tina, Tinoy and Tony, the rebels turned over three M16 rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, a grenade launcher, improvised explosives, ammunition and subversive documents, Brig. Gen. Alden Masagca, 901st IB commander, said.

Masagca said the rebels would receive financial assistance under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

The military said there are around 220 rebels operating in 159 barangays in the Bicol region. – Victor Martin, Artemio Dumlao, Celso Amo, John Unson