BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Soldiers discovered an abandoned camp believed to belong to New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the central part of Negros Occidental.
Philippine Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) commander, Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Guzman, said his troops discovered the camp in the vicinity of Barangay Buenavista in Himamaylan City, to Barangay Tan-awan in Kabankalan City after week-long clearing operations.
He said the camp was fortified with running trenches, battle positions and can accommodate at least 60 persons. As the troops were searching the area, they discovered an improvised explosive device and an AK-47 assault rifle.
Guzman added the abandoned camp was now marked as a target for artillery and bomber aircraft once the rebels are monitored re-occupying the position again.
The 94IB commander also disclosed they have received information from a local resident alleging that the remains of one of the two NPA insurgents killed during an encounter on April 30 has been spotted at a creek-line located in Bindoy town’s Barangay Cambudlas in Negros Oriental.
The 94IB immediately sent troops to the area following the tip-off, but the remains of the NPA rebel may have already been recovered or buried by his fellow insurgents. However, they recovered an M16 rifle which may have belonged to one of the NPA fatalities.
He further added the 94IB will intensify its focused military operations in the central part of Negros Island to destroy NPA formations and neutralize identified insurgent personalities and supporters in pursuit of peace in the area./PN
