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| Southeast Asia |
| Army combat battalion discovers big NPA camp in Surigao del Sur |
| 2006-12-15 |
| A patrolling combat maneuvering battalion discovered on Wednesday a big camp of New People's Army (NPA) in a mountainous and forested Kaguisokan area, Andap Valley Complex, Marihatag town, Surigao del Sur. Maj. Samuel C. Sagun, regional Army spokesman, told Maj. Gen. Jose T. Barbieto, area command chief of the Army's Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division, said the NPA camp was sighted on December 7 and was only occupied by the patrolling four sections of "Alfa" and "Bravo" Company of the 58th Infantry Battalion on Thursday morning. A report of Brig. Gen. Luini Mirar, commanding general of the Army's 401st Infantry Brigade, stated that the abandoned enemy camp is spread into two adjoining high grounds, which can accommodate 200 personnel. Gen. Mirar said the first high ground is 6x20 meters with makeshift huts made of bamboo and plastic tent materials. The second high ground is surrounded by communal farm planted with assorted vegetables and herbal plants. The patrolling troops recovered one magazine with ammunition for M16, rain curtains, cooking/eating paraphernalia and five 20-gallon water containers. "Our operating troops destroyed the camp before leaving for the next objective," Maj. Sagun added. He added the seized camp was believed to be one of the command centers of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC). Gen. Barbieto commended the operating troops for the seizure of the NPA as he renewed his previous directive to continue their combat operation without let up in reported rebels' lairs in Northeastern Mindanao region. Meanwhile, an alleged former squad commander of Front Committee 21-B of the CPP-NPA NEMRC voluntarily surrendered to Lt. Col. Amador Tabuga, Jr., commanding officer of the 29th Infantry Battallion based in Agusan del Sur province, Gen. Barbieto said. Based on the spot report of Col. Dante B. Fernandez, commanding officer of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, Gen. Barbieto said the former NPA squad commander, whose identity is being temporarily withheld for security reason, has also brought along with him one US caliber 30 M1 919A4 Browning Machinegun and live ammunitions. Barbieto said the surrenderee is still undergoing custodial debriefing at 29th IB headquarters. (PNA) |
| Posted by:Fred |