BACOLOD City – Soldiers and policemen overran a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) bomb-making camp in Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
Troopers of the Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Philippine National Police-Special Action Force seized what was considered a repository and manufacturing site of explosive devices of the communist rebels in Sitio Cabilocan in Camindangan, following a brief firefight around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday with suspected NPA rebels manning the site.
The firefight between the troops and five rebel guards lasted 10 minutes, after which the NPAs fled.
During the pursuit operation, at least three suspected NPA members were arrested – Roberto Tingson, 34, and Jory Mate, 38, both suspected members of the NPA’s Yunit Militia in the village, as well as a certain “Amado” who was identified as an explosives expert.
Police Regional Office 7 director Brigadier General Debold Sinas said their Explosive and Ordinance Disposal team recovered five sets of live improvised explosive device (IED) , IED materials and components weighing almost two kilos, blasting caps, three radios, assorted ammunition, several firearms, and subversive documents, which were brought to the Sipalay City police station for documentation.
Sinas said the operation was triggered by tips regarding the presence of the NPA camp in the village.
No one was hurt on the side of the government troops during the clash but many of the suspects were able to escape by using the big limestone formation in the area as cover.
Blocking forces were unable to intercept the escaping guerrillas due to the heavy forest./PN
