TACLOBAN CITY — Soldiers from the 63rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army raided a temporary New People's Army camp in Barangay Magtino, Llorente, Eastern Samar, Monday.
Recovered were two M16 rifles, one caliber .45 pistol, two long and five short magazines of M16 A1, one magazine of caliber .45 pistol with five bullets, five backpacks containing personal belongings, food items, and cooking utensils.
The arms cache was reportedly owned by the 13 remaining members of the Sub-Regional Committee Sesame of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee whose members were reportedly asking food from civilians.
According to Lt. Col. Eduardo Meclat Jr., commanding officer of the 63rd IB, the operation was conducted to continuously insulate and protect the communities from the threats of the NPA in the area.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade, lauded the community for their determination to maintain peace and prevent NPA remnants from regaining influence in their areas.
“The people in the area are already enjoying the peace that we have worked hard for quite some time and we don’t want that peace to be disrupted by the presence of NPA remnants. It has been and will always be our commitment that we will continue to secure them against any individual or group who intends to destroy that peace,” he said.