Military in Region 8 seizes biggest NPA lair in the area

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
June 30, 2009

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Unwavering in its mission to clear the island of Leyte from insurgency, the 19th Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, launched two weeks ago, a major combat operations against the CPP-NPA-NDF remnants that operates in the 2nd and 5th districts of Leyte.

The ongoing operations has resulted to three initial encounters and has led to the successful seizure of six enemy encampments that include two of the biggest NPA camps which were overran on June 18 and June 20, 2009.

First Lieutenant Noli Lago, Information Officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion, informed that the NPA camps were seized by the military after the NPA members hastily run for their lives leaving behind valuable equipments and documents at the thickly forested mountains in So. Maibga, Barangay Cagbana in the municipality of Burauen in the province of Leyte.

The said enemy camps have makeshift tents and bunkers that can accommodate more or less one hundred NPA occupants, the report stated.

The operating troops lef by 2Lt. Cristopher Badong and 2Lt. Jonathan Ramirez recovered two generator sets and generator rack; five pieces computer hard disk drives; three units of handheld radios; two units computer printer; 559 rounds live ammunition for caliber M14; 29 rounds of live ammunitions for caliber 30 garrand rifle; 51 pieces assorted CDs and DVDs; two liters of engine oil; and nine sacks of communist terrorist documents that include one NDF and one NPA flags.

The military operatives disclosed that the successful operations and discovery of the NPA camps was made possible through the support and cooperation of the people in the locality, particularly the barangay chairman and the other barangay officials of Barangay Cagbana in Buraue, who were instrumental in pinpointing the exact location of the camps.

Lt. Colonel Roberto S. Capulong, commanding officer of the 19th IB, reiterated that the military is committed to eliminate the remnants of the North Leyte Front of the EVRPC to make the island of Leyte insurgency free.

“The problem of insurgency can not be resolved by the Army alone. This is the reason why we’re asking for the cooperation of the people especially the LGU/LGA in order to solve this problem,” the commanding officer said.

Lt. Colonel Capulong also called the attention of the active NPAs to lay down their firearms and return to the folds of the law.