Army troops take arms, explosives from rebels in Ormoc

From the Manila Standard Today (May 6): Army troops take arms, explosives from rebels in Ormoc

ORMOC CITY—Army troops of the 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion, 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division seized five high-powered firearms and explosives during an armed confrontation with New People’s Army rebels in Barangay Liberty, Ormoc City on Sunday, May 3.

 

 

Lt. Col Nedy C. Espulgar, Commanding Officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion based in the area, said his unit received information from a concerned citizen about the presence of heavily armed men in the barangay.

Acting on the information, troops proceeded to the area and confirmed the presence of about ten NPA members at the outskirts. A five-minute firefight ensued between the government troops and the rebels,  after which the latter withdrew.

Troops immediately scoured the area and seized four M16A1 rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, several M16 magazines, 40mm ammunition, rifle grenades, an improvised explosive device (IED) and cell phones.

Likewise, assorted medical provisions, foodstuffs, personal belongings and subversive documents were found in the area.

There was no reported casualty on the government side.

Major General Jet B. Velarmino, 8ID Commander, thanked the residents of Brgy Liberty for the information, the local government unit, and the soldiers.

“Let us continue to affirm or reaffirm our respective roles and mandate to preserve and sustain the gains and pre-empt/prevent the resurgence of Local Terrorist Groups and to continually exert efforts, cooperate, support and assist each other, along with other government agencies and instrumentalities, in preserving the peace and order in this part of the region.”

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/05/06/army-troops-take-arms-explosives-from-rebels-in-ormoc/