Army nets 6 high-powered guns from clash with NPA rebels

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 29, 2022): Army nets 6 high-powered guns from clash with NPA rebels (By Alexander Lopez)

RECOVERED FIREARMS. The 29th Infantry Battalion recovers high-powered firearms from the New People’s Army (NPA) in a skirmish Tuesday (Jan. 25, 2022) in Sitio Ancili, Barangay Putting Bato, Cabadbaran City. The firearms were recovered after troops conducting a security operation in the area clashed with around 15 NPA insurgents. (Photo courtesy of 29IB)

The 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) reported the recovery of six high-powered firearms after a clash with communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sitio Ancili, Barangay Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City on Jan. 25.

In a press statement issued Friday, the 29IB said its troops were conducting a security operation in the area when they encountered around 15 NPA rebels.

“The rebels belonged to Sub-Regional Committee Northland, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the NPA led by Alias Chong,” it said.

It added that the armed encounter on Tuesday lasted for nearly eight hours. No one was hurt from the government side.

After the encounter, the soldiers recovered assorted food supplies, personal belongings, subversive documents with high intelligence value, and several firearms, including EMTAN 5.56mm rifle, an M16A2 rifle, an M653 rifle, an M203 grenade launcher rifle, and two AK47 rifles

“I call on my brothers and sisters who are still in the armed struggle against the government to surrender. You will continue to suffer hunger because all the government agencies, soldiers, the police, and civilians who are already fed up with chaos you are doing are now working together to stop the insurgency,” said Lt. Col. Jason Saldua, the commander of 29IB said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166658