Kalinaw News: Army recovers dried marijuana after gunfight with NPA

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jan 27, 2021): Army recovers dried marijuana after gunfight with NPA

CAMP MONTECLARO, MIAGAO, ILOILO – Troops of 61st Infanfry (Hunter) Battalion recovers pack of Marijuana following an encounter with CPP-NPA terrorists in Sitio Langka, Barangay, Danao, Leon, Iloilo on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.

The encounter happened days after the troops clashed with more or less 30 communist-terrorists in Sitio Tabionan, Barangay Bucari in the same town. They were responding to reports from the local populace about the presence of armed NPAs in the area when they encountered more or less 30 members of the communist-terrorist group under Sibat Platoon, Southern Front Komiteng Rehiyon –Panay led by Melgar Besmanos alias Mar.

The firefight ensued at around 11:44 in the morning which lasted for about 30 minutes. After which, the CNTs withdrew towards the different directions. There was no casualty on the government side while undetermined on the enemy side.

Recovered from the enemy’s location were one (1) homemade M79 with 12 rounds of 40mm ammunition; one (1) hand grenade; one (1) anti-personnel landmine with 50 meters detonating cord; 62 rounds 7.62mm ammunition; 15 backpacks; two (2)cellular phones; one (1) pocket Wi-Fi; one (1) laptop; seven (7) flash drives; one (1) hand held radio; one (1) gas stove; one (1) cooking utensil, and one (1) pack marijuana.

Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict G Batara, the Commanding Officer of the 61IB said in his statement that the recoveries from the encounter site are manifestations that members of the communist-terrorist group are not only doing terroristic activities but also engaging into illegal drug activities.

“May the NPA fighters realize quickly that the battle they are fighting is neither for a principle nor will uplift their lives. The CPP NPA is a terrorist group as magnified by the recovery of illegal marijuanas in their belongings. Such possession can never justify their propaganda of fighting for the people. It can be easily assumed that they allow destruction of their own men much more on the destruction of this country and the Filipino people,” LTC Batara said.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/army-recovers-dried-marijuana-after-gunfight-with-npa/