BUTUAN CITY – The Army 36th Infantry (Valor) Battalion (IB) seized New People’s Army war materials following a gun battle in Barangay Maitum, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, on Tuesday, September 19.
Recovered were a Bushmaster rifle, an M16 rifle, a Stag A5 VLTOR rifle, an M653 rifle, two R4 rifles, anti-personnel mines and accessories, 30 backpacks, assorted food and medicines, personal belongings, and anti-government documents.
The communist rebels belong to the weakened Guerrilla Front 30, Sub-Regional Committee Westland of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
Army 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (ID) Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Major Francisco P. Garello Jr. said these NPA guerrillas are believed to be the same group that government troops encountered on September 11 in Barangay Maticdum, Tandag City.
An NPA rebel was killed and a high-powered firearm was recovered after the gunfight.
Soldiers are pursuing the fleeing rebels, following blood stains on the withdrawal route.
The pursuit operation is led by 36th IB commanding officer Lt. Col. Vincent M. Viray.