Army prevents NPA extortion try in Capiz town

From the Manila Bulletin (Feb 17, 2023): Army prevents NPA extortion try in Capiz town (By Tara Yap)

ILOILO CITY -– The 12th Infantry Battalion (12 IB) of the Philippine Army prevented an extortion attempt by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Dumalag town, Capiz province on Friday, Feb. 17.

Together with a mobile force company of the Philippine National Police, the 12 IB soldiers fought around five armed NPA rebels in Duran village on Friday morning.

The NPA rebels withdrew and fled toward the southeast direction.

The government troops believed that there might have been hit on NPA rebels’ side during the brief skirmishes owing to the heavy bloodstains that were found along the route.

The government troops recovered a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol, two antipersonnel mines with detonator switches, a hand grenade, five magazines for M16 rifle, two magazines for .45 caliber pistol, assorted ammunition, personal belongings, assorted medicine and subversive documents.

The hierarchy of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) lauded the residents for readily informing the government troops of the rebels’ presence.

“The vigilance of residents in providing the soldiers reliable information on the whereabouts and activities of the NPA is exceedingly helpful to our anti-insurgency efforts,” said Lieutenant General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3ID, and also of the Visayas army.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/17/army-prevents-npa-extortion-try-in-capiz-town/