ILOILO CITY – The 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the Philippine National Police (PNP) seized high-powered firearms following an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA) in Iloilo on Thursday, March 30.
Recovered after the gunfight with five communist guerrillas in Barangay Atimonan, Janiuay, were an M16 rifle and a Garand rifle.
The NPA withdrew and authorities believe that there were wounded NPA rebels due to the trail of blood on their escape route.
The encounter came a day after the 54th founding anniversary of the NPA, the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
The NPA rebels believed to be under the Baloy Platoon of the Central Front Committee in Panay Island were in the area for extortion activities.
The 3rd Infantry Division (ID) lauded residents for informing the military about the presence of the NPA.
“This is a clear manifestation that the locals are already fed up with the terroristic activities of the NPAs. They can run, but they can’t hide, for we have the support of the community,” said Brig. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID chief.