By Freddie Lazaro
CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela – Troops belonging to the 95th Infantry Battalion (95th IB) have seized an encampment of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the vicinity of Barangay Rang-ayan, Ilagan City, Isabela, according to Major Noriel Tayaban, the spokesperson of the Fifth Infantry Division based here.
New People's Army (MANILA BULLETIN)
Tayaban said Saturday that the NPA’s camp was discovered while the soldiers were conducting hot pursuit operations on some NPA members with whom they had an encounter last February 16.
The rebels they encountered were reportedly under the group of Central Front (CF) led by Ka Bang, and Regional Sentro De-Grabidad (RSDG) of Komiteng Rehiyong-Cagayan Valley (KR-CV), led by a certain Ka Brad.
The encampment that was seized can accommodate more or less 70 individuals, with 50 bunkers (makeshifts) made of bamboo, improvised classroom and kitchen believed to be occupied by the members of CF and RSDG, KR-CV.
He said the camp was immediately abandoned by the rebels after the encounter with the government forces.
Meanwhile, the two NPA leaders and one member, who died during the encounter with the elements of the army’s 95th Infantry Battalion were already identified.
They were identified as Dominador Aglosolos, also known as Bobby, who was squad leader of the Regional Sentro De - Grabidad (RSDG) of Komiteng Rehiyong-Cagayan Valley (KR-CV) and a resident of Barangay Villa Imelda, Ilagan City, Isabela; Darrel Villareal, alias Princes, medical officer of the Central Front of the NPA and resident of Echague, Isabela; and Joseph Manuel of Ilagan City, Isabela.