Government forces have recovered a camp in the deep forest
the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have abandoned following a clash in the province of Zamboanga del Sur
Capt. Franco Salvador Suelto, Army’s First Infantry Division
information officer, quoting a belated field report said the NPA fled as they
failed to withstand the troops from the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion in an
hour-long firefight.
Suelto said the troops were on security patrol when they
chanced upon the NPA rebels around 6:57 a.m. Wednesday in Sitio Sabangan,
Barangay Dumalinao, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur.
“Troops of the 10th Infantry Battalion were on routine
security patrol when they were fired upon by the NPA group. An hour-long gun
battle then ensued, resulting to the discovery of an NPA encampment and
recovery of subversive documents in the area of engagement,” Suelto said.
He said the rebels, who belong to the NPA’s Section
Committee Feliciano Alpha, were believed to have suffered casualties as bloodstains
were visible in the abandoned camp.
He disclosed that one soldier was killed during the
hour-long firefight against the NPA rebels.
“The NPA camp’s location is deep in the forested areas of
the provincial boundary between Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. This
is a clear indication that they are encamping in uninhabited areas because they
already lost their support of the local populace in their traditional areas due
to continuous Bayanihan (Peace and Development) activities. The NPAs in
Zamboanga del Norte are now tired and facing hardship on continuous evasion of
military troops,” he added.
He said the troops are tracking down the whereabouts of the
NPA rebels who abandoned their camp.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of our
soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in name of peace and development,”
Brig. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos, 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division command, said.
Barrientos said the Tabak Division, through its field units,
will pursue the NPA in Zamboanga del Sur to finally declare the province as
“peaceful and ready for further development” this year.
“The Army will show the futility of NPA’s armed struggle and
induce it to abandon the armed struggle and engage in peace negotiations with
the government,” Barrientos added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=741973
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