Rebel’s remains recovered in Agusan Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 20, 2023): Rebel’s remains recovered in Agusan Sur (By Alexander Lopez)

RECOVERED. The troops of the 75th Infantry Battalion recovered various war materiel after an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents in a hinterland barangay of Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur on Friday (Aug. 18, 2023). A cadaver of an NPA combatant was also recovered near the encounter site the following day. (Photo courtesy of 401Bde)

BUTUAN CITY – The troops of the 75th Infantry Battalion (75IB) of the Army recovered on Saturday afternoon a cadaver of a New People’s Army (NPA) rebel in the hinterland Barangay Laperian, Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur.

The recovery took place a day after the 75IB troopers engaged around 30 NPA insurgents in a 15-minute encounter.

“One day after the encounter, or on Saturday, the barangay officials of Laperian reported the discovery of the body,” the 401st Infantry Brigade said in a statement Sunday.

Government troops are now working to identify the recovered cadaver so they can turn it over to the family.

The recent encounter happened after concerned civilians reported the presence of NPA rebels who were conducting extortion activities.

Troopers recovered one M16 Bushmaster rifle, one grenade, one rifle grenade, four pieces of 40mm high explosive live ammunition, one set of anti-personnel mine, 15 meters of detonating cord, 22 long and one short 5.56mm magazines, 58 pieces of cal. 30 ammunition, 200 pieces of 5.56 ammunition, three bandoliers, eight backpacks, three analog cellular phones, one USB (Universal Serial Bus), various medical and dental paraphernalia and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

In a separate statement, the Army’s 65th Infantry Battalion reported the recovery of several war materials on Friday in remote Barangay Kolambugan, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.

The recovered items include one 2.5 horsepower generator set, 15 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition for the M16A1 rifle, 30 rounds of ammo for the AK47 rifle, 15 rounds of ammo for 50 caliber machineguns, two magazines for M16A1 rifles, one magazine for AK47, 125 pieces blasting caps, a 150-meter of detonating cord, 20 kilograms of explosive materials and various subversive documents.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1208177