ILOILO CITY – Soldiers from the 61st Infantry Battalion (61st IB) seized a camp belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) in Miag-ao town, Iloilo province, on Saturday, December 26, which was the 52nd founding anniversary of the leftist armed group’s political arm Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
According to 61st IB Commander Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara, his men clashed with about 60 NPA rebels, who belong to the Suyak platoon of the NPA’s Southern Front Committee, in the mountainous village of Tigmarabo on Saturday.
The encounter lasted 20 minutes until the rebels withdrew in different directions, leaving behind their camp.
Government troops found several items from the abandoned NPA camp. It included two 12-gauge shotguns, a hand grenade, 10 backpacks, two mobile phones, a binocular, a projector, and subversive documents.
Meanwhile, the 61st IB is urging residents of mountainous villages in the area to remain vigilant.
“Report immediately the presence and plans of NPA,” Batara urged.