Soldiers overrun NPA camp in Quezon town

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 5): Soldiers overrun NPA camp in Quezon town

CAMP GEN. CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal -- Government troops of the 1st Infantry Battalion (1IB) on Tuesday overran a temporary encampment of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sampaloc, Quezon which the military described as possible preparation for their Dec. 26 anniversary celebration.

Lt. Col. Jonathan S. Manio, 1st IB Commanding Officer, said the troops assaulted the rebels’ position in the remote village of barangay San Bueno while conducting Focus Military Operation (FMO).

Manio said the government troops’ assault stemmed from an intelligence report and a tip-off from civilians about the presence of members of the NPA Military Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU).

The insurgents were conducting their extortion activities in the vicinity of the village as residents were gripped in fear, he said.

He said government forces engaged some 20 NPA terrorist rebels to a 30-minute gun battle at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday where three soldiers were slightly wounded but are now in stable condition after medical treatment.

Troops believed the NPA suffered an undetermined number of casualties as they found traces of heavy blood stains at the clash site. The retreating rebels brought along their wounded comrades as they fled the battle site, Manio said.

The soldiers recovered one M16 rifle loaded with magazine and ammunition, personal belongings and other war materiel.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos Jr., Commander of the 202nd Brigade who has operational jurisdiction over Calabarzon Region, said the recent troops’ encounter in Sampaloc, including last month’s successive encounters in General Nakar town stemmed from voluntary information and tips from concerned civilians.

“It clearly shows that the NPAs are indeed losing mass base support due to their extortion and terror acts towards the people," Burgos said.

Maj. Gen. Rhoderick M. Parayno, Commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry "Jungle Fighter" Division (2ID) lauded efforts of the 1IB.

He said this latest encounter with the NPA terrorists is a big setback to the upcoming Dec. 26 anniversary preparations of the outlawed communist party.

He said the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military armed, the New People’s Army, have been notorious in staging hostilities such as harassments, raids and ambuscades against soft government posts and installations to highlight significant events in the terrorist movement.

“We will be relentless on our combat operations until the yearend and we will give the CPP/NPA no time to celebrate their futile cause,” Parayno said.

“If they want to be with their families and live peaceful and lead normal and productive lives, I guarantee their safety and I'll make sure that they receive all the benefits due them offered by the government," Parayno added reiterating his appeal for the rebels to return to the fold of the law.

As of posting time, government troops are still conducting pursuit operations and checkpoints in coordination with the local police against said group of NPA rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1055791