Army raids NPA hideout in Misamis Oriental

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 5, 2022): Army raids NPA hideout in Misamis Oriental (By Franck Dick Rosete)

RAID. Troops from the 58th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army recover backpacks, personal belongings, medical paraphernalia, and subversive documents after they raided a New People’s Army hideout in Barangay Banglay, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental on Friday (June 3, 2022). There were no casualties on the government side. (Photo courtesy of 58IB)

The Army's 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) raided a hideout of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Banglay, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental on Friday.

Maj. Francisco Garello, Public Affairs Office chief of the 4th Infantry Division, shared in an interview over the weekend that government troops recovered backpacks, personal belongings, medical paraphernalia, and subversive documents from the hideout of the Guerrilla Front Huawei, Sub-Regional Committee 1 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

The strike operation started at about 10 a.m., following the tracks of five NPA fighters whom the military previously encountered.

The clash lasted only for just about 10 minutes as the rebels immediately withdrew and fled toward the northeast.

There were no casualties on the government side but it cannot be confirmed yet if the NPA side had injuries or death.

Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy, the 58IB commanding officer, said they need to intensify their operations due to the desperation of the NPA.

"The encounter is a result of the continuous effort and active steps to thwart enemy hostile activities such as extortion and atrocities, especially now that they are becoming more and more desperate with their current situation, not having enough resources and supplies, deprived of food and rest,” Canatoy said in another statement.

Meanwhile, the Lagonglong Municipal Police Station has coordinated with the Army to conduct checkpoints on major roads in Barangay Banglay.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA (CPP-NPA) is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The Anti-Terrorism Council has also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175866