Army troops gains over ISO campaign

Press Release
By Office of the Division Public Affairs, 8ID PA
December 21, 2009

ORAS, Eastern Samar  –  The Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion encountered anew against the terrorist New Peoples Army in Sitio Bagti, Brgy. Mabini, Basey, Samar around 2 p.m. last Saturday.

Reports reaching to this headquarters disclosed that the said encounter transpired in response to civilian information that some armed men were conducting extortion activities in aforesaid sitio.

In order to confirm the report, a squad size under 1Lt Del Rosario were sent out by the said battalion wherein more than 15 members of local terrorist group (LTG) were caught resting at forested area within the proximities of the reported sitio after conducting extortion activity.

Firefight ensued for almost 10 minutes that forced the LTG to flee bringing along with them their wounded buddies while one soldier was slightly wounded, Private First Class Jonel Doron who is now in stable condition.

One Caliber 30 caliber rifle, three combat packs, volume of subversive documents and personal belongings were some of the articles recovered after the group of Lt Del Rosario scoured the scene of encounter.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Armand Rico, spokesperson of 8th Infantry Division said that the Commander, 8ID Major General Arthur Tabaquero has conveyed his appreciation with the successful implementation of their ISO campaign even before the end of this year.

Lt. Col. Rico said that Gen. Tabaquero salutes with the sacrifices of his soldiers who are in the “frontline” of the campaign fearlessly fore-fronting the risk just to maintain the peace in their respective areas.

“This is a manifestation that our people’s minds are already aware with the true score of the communist rebels operating in their area.  The series of encounters of their troops against the rebels due to the people’s report proves that our people are already acting for their cause”, said Rico.