Butuan City – Government troops captured a New People’s Army (NPA) encampment and seized several war materials and bombs after a fierce gun battle at a forested area in Anahawan, Barangay Mabuhay, in Prosperidad town, Agusan del Sur, military reported yesterday.
The troops reported killing five insurgents but their bodies were immediately retrieved by the rebels as they made their retreat in nearby Mount Diwata range, bordering Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.
There was no casualty among the troops during the almost one hour firefight, a military report said.
Col. Alexander L. Macario, commanding officer of the Army’s 401st Infantry (Unity) Brigade based in Awa, New Leyte, Prosperidad town, said the seized NPA encampment could accommodate about 70 persons. It was believed to belong to CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
He said troops were also able to seize an AK47 rifle, rifle grenades, anti-tank and anti-personnel landmines, blasting caps and other bomb materials, a radio, electrical detonating switch, cellphones, 200 meters of electrical detonating wire, five backpacks, volumes of subversive documents and personal belongings.Troops are still undertaking mopping up operations yesterday in the seized NPA camp where several blood stains were also found, the Brigade commander said.
Meanwhile, Col. Jesse A. Alvarez, commanding officer of the 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, has ordered battalion commanders and other operational control (Opcon) unit commanders to “continue without let-up” their security patrols to secure villagers and farmers, especially natives in far-flung communities from extortion activities by the NPA.
The security operation was ordered by Alvarez after he received reports about the presence of NPA group making the rounds of villages and allegedly implementing forced taxation.
“This security operation is part of our commitment to free the communities across the Pulangi River in Northern Mindanao from threats and terror of the NPA,” Alvarez said, adding: “In due time we will be able to restore normalcy in areas threatened by this terrorist group.”
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/afp-overruns-npa-camp-in-agusan-del-sur/#wDsFLl7odhthAIy4.99
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