Another NPA camp falls, war material recovered

By 20th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA
February 10, 2013

BRGY. MAGSAYSAY, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar – Another CPP/NPA camp has been seized by government forces in vicinity Km 11, Barangay Happy Valley, San Isidro, Northern Samar last February 9, 2013 at around 2:20 in the afternoon.

Lieutenant Colonel Noel A Vestuir, 20IB’s Commanding Officer, in his report to 803rd Brigade Commander, Colonel Rolando Malinao, said that as the troops of Charlie Company, 20IB led by Sgt Orlando Onate while tracking down the reported NPA presence in the area as reported by the civilians, chanced upon a nipa hut in an isolated and secluded place which was later found out to be an NPA temporary camp.

As the troops searched the area, they were able to recover one (1) jungle pack; one jungle hammock (duyan); one book entitled “Pag Aradman han mga Aktibista”; one (1) poncho; two (2) magazines for cal .45 pistol with eight (8) live ammunitions and two (2) empty shells; one (1) DSWD ID; one (1) COMELEC ID; one (1) sim card; one (1) memory card; one (1) USB; one (1) belt bag; and other personal belongings left by the fleeing communist terrorists.

According to LTC Vestuir, the camp has one (1) Nipa hut, fifteen (15) makeshift bunkers that can accommodate more or less 15-20 communist terrorists, two (2) outposts and believed to be hastily destroyed and abandoned by the fleeing CTs before the arrival of the government troops.

The camp was discovered after 20IB has launched sustained combat operations in the area of Victoria and San Isidro in response to the reported presence of communist terrorists in the area as tipped-in by the peace-loving residents.

LTC Vestuir added, that the series of the discovery of NPA camps was a result of the continuing support of the people in the barangays. As can be recalled, two NPA camp were also seized by 20IB last week in Victoria and Catarman.

According to LTC Vestuir, “the NPA camp was seized through the information given by the residents that enabled our troops to track the location that serve as a staging ground for their terroristic activities. As long as the people are with us, we will continue to find them, hunt them and drive them away from our peace-loving people so that peace shall reign in the barangays. The information provided by the populace is a clear indication that the enemy revolutionary organization has already alienated the people and the communities where they got their support through their forced extortion activities”.