Soldiers take NPA camps in Carigara, Leyte and Igbaras, Iloilo

CEBU, Philippines - Government troops have overrun camps of the New People’s Army in Carigara town of Leyte last September 14 and in Igbaras town of Iloilo last September 17.

Soldiers of the 19th Infantry Battalion in Kananga, Leyte took an NPA makeshift camp, believed to be a “teach-in” venue for recruits, at a remote area of Barangay Parag-um in Carigara town, after a 30-minute firefight with at least 50 rebels.

Not one of the fleeing rebels were captured and the government also did not suffer any casualty, but the soldiers confiscated from the camp two M16 armalite rifles, an M203 grenade launcher, ammunition, personal belongings, identification cards, receipts issued to various people, SIMs and cellphones, and 28 tents.

In a press conference, Lieutenant Colonel Nedy Espulgar, 19th IB commander, said they got information from a resident about the presence of rebels, who were also extorting the people in the area. This prompted the official to dispatch a squad, led by 1st Lt. Jaime Taguic, to the site.

The camp was located about 700 meters from the feeder road of the barangay but, upon approaching the area, the rebels fired at the soldiers, and a firefight ensued.

Colonel Dino Dolina, 802nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the camp proved to be a treasure trove of information about the NPA’s movements as well as to the identities of the leaders operating the camp.

In Igbaras town of Iloilo, soldiers of the 82nd Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division engaged NPA rebels in a brief firefight, which resulted in the taking of the latter’s camp at Barangay Igcabugao of the town at around 1.55 p.m. Wednesday.

The seized camp, which has an estimated area of 700 square meters, can accommodate about a hundred men. It has three kitchens, numerous foxholes, makeshift huts for training instructions and meetings, and a firing range. The troops recovered training paraphernalia, wires of improvised explosive device or landmine and personal belongings.

Lieutenant Colonel Aldwine Almase, 82nd IB commander, said his troops were conducting community security operations in that village when they were fired upon by an undetermined number of rebels, believed to belong to the Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyonal–Panay of the CPP-NPA.

The Army troops resorted to fire back and a fire fight ensued for five minutes before the rebels were forced to withdraw to different directions. There were no reports of casualty, but the soldiers scoured the scene of encounter and saw blood stains along the NPA’s route of withdrawal.

Before the encounter, the soldiers got reports from residents about the presence of the rebels and they complained that the latter were asking for money and food supplies from the civilians. —Lalaine M. Jimenea, Jennifer P. Rendon and May Joven (FREEMAN)