New People’s Army arms cache recovered in Masbate

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Soldiers of the 2nd  Infantry Battalion recovered various firearms and explosives from New People’s Army (NPA) rebels following an encounter on Ticao island in Masbate yesterday.

Six M16 rifles, an M653 and M1 carbines, five rifle and four M203 grenades,  three cell phones, nine backpacks, two improvised explosive devices,  a laptop, a solar panel and subversive documents as well as the motorized boat used by the rebels were seized, Capt. Joash Pramis, 9th Infantry Division public information officer, said.

Pramis said several communist rebels were wounded in the encounter in Barangay San Fernando. There was no reported casualty among government troopers.

Meanwhile, Greg Esmeria, 35, an NPA rebel operating in Sorsogon, was arrested in Barangay San Cristobal in Calamba, Laguna on Monday. The arrest was based on a warrant for attempted murder issued by a local court.

In Agusan del Sur, the military said an NPA guerrilla who has yet to be identified was killed in a clash in Barangay Mahagsay, San Luis town in the past two days. – Ben Serrano