Materiel recovered in Northern Samar

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 8): Materiel recovered in Northern Samar

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City — Army troops operating in Northern Samar have again recovered landmines and war devices after scouring encounter sites at the tri-boundaries of Barangays Tula, Sinonogan and Cagbigajo in the town of Pambujan, Northern Samar last Wednesday, April 3.

Troops with the Philippine Army (PA)’s 63rd Infantry Battalion (IB) and 81st Division Reconnaissance Company headed by 1st Lieutenant Louwie Torda engaged five rebels believed to be members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) in a five-minute fire fight around 8 a.m. at said tri-boundaries.

At 10:50 a.m. on the said day, separate troops encountered around 40 NPA rebels along the boundaries of Barangays San Antonio, Catotoogan, and Imelda in the town of Las Navas. The military subdued the rebels and recovered a shotgun, war materiel, and NPA subversive documents.

In a related event, another separate entity from the 63IB while scouring the encounter site recovered eight landmines, two detonator sets, 10 pieces of blasting caps, 200 meters long electrical wirings and discovered an abandoned NPA camp composed of 22 bunkers with two kitchens.

“The series of engagements against the NPA rebels is a clear manifestation that government forces are continuously performing their tasks in securing communities here in Northern Samar,” Lt. Col. Arvin R. Lagamon, Commander of 63rd (IB) said.

“We will further strengthen and intensify our security operations to protect the lives of innocent civilians from any terroristic activities of NPA rebels in the communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cpt. Gene Orense, 8th Infantry Division spokesperson disclosed that government forces once again foiled a terroristic act by the NPA through the recovery of landmines and other war devices.

He added that the recent rebel acts blatantly defy the signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) between government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) by using landmines in their terroristic activities.

http://www.mb.com.ph/article.php?aid=6646&sid=1&subid=5