Army’s 8th Infantry Division batters CPP/NPA terrorists in Eastern Visayas!

Press Release
By Division Public Affairs Office, 8th Infantry Division PA
July 12, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  – 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army has again battered the CPP/NPA terrorists in Eastern Visayas after hitting the latter in two separate operations in Leyte and Northern Samar that resulted to the killing of two NPA fighters and the apprehension of three other CPP/NPA members. Also recovered from the communist terrorists were four M16 armalite and one M14 sniper rifles, one colt super .38 handgun, a laptop computer, magazines & assorted ammunition and subversive CPP/NPA documents.

Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division Commanding General, Major General Bonifacio B. Ramos AFP commended the troops for effectively carrying out the instructions of the national leadership to relentlessly conduct pursuit operations against the CPP/NPA/NDF and other lawless elements.

Likewise, Major General Ramos expressed his sincere gratitude to the public for providing timely and accurate information that led to the operation’s success. “We are happy that most of our people have finally realized that indeed, ending insurgency and achieving true peace requires the vigorous participation of everybody” he said.

At around 8:45 in the morning of July 8, 2006, members of 802nd Brigade, particularly 19th Infantry Battalion with augmentation from the different AFP intelligence units led by Lieutenant Colonel Lope C. Dagoy, raided the compound of Doctor Ramon Agudo at Barangay Santo Niño, Ormoc City, Leyte following reports from civilians about the presence of a NPA safe house and suspicious looking armed persons in the site.

Said raid yielded the apprehension of communist terrorist members Nathaniel Agustin alias Ronie/Regan, Jojo Rubilos y Agapito alias Jeorge and Liezel Rentillosa and the recovery of three M16 armalite rifles, one colt caliber super .38 handgun, assorted ammunition and subversive documents.

The apprehended CPP/NPA terrorists are currently in the custody of 19th Infantry Battalion pending the filing of appropriate charges in court.

Relatedly, at about 10:00 in the morning of July 6, 2006, 803rd Brigade’s 63rd Infantry Battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Felimon T. Santos Jr. also gunned down two NPA terrorist fighters while rescuing an old woman named Marilyn Parane and an infant after an hour and fifteen minutes firefight against a separate group of NPAs at Barangay Imelda, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Two (M16 & M14) rifles, a laptop computer, assorted ammunition and subversive CPP/NPA documents were also recovered during the said operation.

63rd Infantry Battalion has later turned over Marilyn Parane and the infant to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Las Navas upon reaching the municipality proper while the cadavers of the killed NPAs were received by the Local Government of Las Navas for appropriate disposition.

The operations were an offshoot of the people’s active involvement, to once and for all eradicate the CPP/NPA menace in the region.