Philippine Army troopers killed two unidentified New
People’s Army (NPA) members and recovered three firearms, 618 ammunition and 42
improvised explosive devices in an encounter at 5:55 a.m. Monday at Barangay
San Rafael, Lupi, Camarines Sur, a belated report released Thursday said.
The report said members of the 92nd Division Reconnaissance
Company of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army led by 2Lt. George
A. Atolba engaged at least 30 NPA men in about 45-minute firefight.
After the last burst of gunfire, government soldiers
recovered two unidentified dead male persons and recovered, one M60 LMG rifle
(SN 17459) with 347 ammunition; one M16 rifle TM: RP Elisco SN024123 with
inserted magazine loaded with 42 live ammunition; one MK 9mm pistol Colt
without SN with inserted magazine loaded with 16 ammunition; 213 live
ammunition DOE CALIBWE 30; one solar panel, one converter, one 12-volt Motolite
battery, one transistor radio, ten backpacks with personal belongings and
anti-government documents.
Soldiers also recovered 20 improvised explosive devices
(IEDs) placed in a small can, 19 IEDs placed inside a big can; three IEDs
placed inside a big plastic pipe, six plastic pipes measuring about four inches
long with blasting caps, and two molotov bombs with plastic containers.
All the recovered items are now under the custody of the
Army while the two unidentified cadavers were brought to the Sta. Rita Funeral
Parlor in Sipocot, Camarines Sur for autopsy.
Lt. Col. Arnel B. Bautista, commanding officer of the Army
unit involved in the operation on Monday, said he believes the heightened armed
activities of the NPA were related to the celebration of the 47th founding
anniversary of the NPA on March 29.
Bautista said they are trying to analyze where the big number
of about 30 NPA rebels came from and they suspected that they might have come
from different provinces in Bicol.
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