Another two NPA camps overran by 20IB troops in Northern Samar

By 20th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA
November 28, 2011

BRGY. MAGSAYSAY, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar  –  The relentless conduct of focused and sustained combat operations by the troops of 20th Infantry (We Lead) Battalion, 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army in the tri-boundary of municipalities of Catarman, Bobon and Lope de Vega all of Northern Samar resulted to two encounters on November 28, 2011.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Noel Vestuir, Commanding Officer of 20IB, the operating troops under 2Lt. Joter Lobo PA and 2Lt Al Peter Galula PA, received information volunteered by some barangay resident that armed men believed to be CTs (communist terrorists) are present in an area located in between Barangays San Julian and San Pascual of Catarman, Northern Samar.

Early morning, the troops proceeded to the said area and caught the enemy by surprise. Firefight ensued for about an hour that forced the enemy to withdraw towards different directions.  The troops were able to overrun the enemy encampment which has 20 bunkers that could accommodate more or less 30 communist terrorists. The troops also recovered 460 rounds of ammunition for M60 machine gun link; one sack of rice; kitchen utensils and cooking paraphernalia; personal belongings and one bag of CT documents. The government troops suffered no casualty while on the enemy side, there are undetermined number of wounded as troops found traces of bloodstains in the former enemy position.

At 12:30 afternoon of the same day, the government troops while pursuing the fleeing communist terrorists, encountered again a group of around sixty (60) fully armed NPAs about 500 meters from the previous encounter site.  After more than an hour of exchange of fires, the government troops overran and seized the enemy position which is another encampment. The said camp has 30 bunkers that can accommodate more or less 60 CTs.

The recent accomplishments by the 20IB troops against the NPAs in the area of 1st district of Northern Samar have disrupted the impending terroristic activities that are being hatched to be conducted by the NPA. The government troops has dislodged them from their guerilla camps and cut-off their supply support lines that they forcibly take from the residents in the area. The discovery and seizure of the said camp in the area was made possible by the information provided by local populace and is a clear indication that enemy revolutionary organization has already alienated the people and the communities where they got their support through their forced extortion activities.