Army ‘Bayanihan’ troops persist in pursuing rebels

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 7): Army ‘Bayanihan’ troops persist in pursuing rebels

The army Bayanihan troops continue to pursue rebels particularly in Matuguinao, Samar where lairs of rebel camps are hidden; on November 5 in Barangay Del Rosario, Matuguinao, Samar, they seized an abandoned enemy camp. According to Captain Gene Orense of the 8th Infantry Division, there were makeshift bunkers and kitchen which can accommodate 45 people in the camp. “The abandoned NPA camp in Matuguianao, Samar symbolizes that the NPA is suffering a so-called social pressure not only by the pursuing military troops but primarily the lack of support from its former mass base in the area, ” Major General Gerardo T Layug AFP, Commander, 8th Infantry Division said. Also,in the afternoon of the same day, the Bayanihan teams of the 63rd Infantry Battalion under 1LT Retumban clashed with an undetermined number of NPAs at Barangay Rizal, Matuguinao. The firefight lasted for 10 minutes which resulted to the wounding of Pfc Elwin Bert E Paller.... The Bayanihan activities is just one of the the main thrusts of the Army in assisting local communities to identify and address the local issues which hampers peace and development in the communities in Samar.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1221352201865