BACOLOD City – A New People’s Army (NPA) fighter was caught in Sitio Bunga, Barangay Salong, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The Philippine Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) troopers recovered a 9mm pistol, an improvised shotgun, a hand grenade, a radio handset, two mobile phones, two hammocks, and materials for fabrication of improvised firearms from 21-year-old Arnel Sairot of Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
They also found copies of NPA extortion letters for construction companies, an NPA training certificate of completion and subversive documents.
Colonel Benedict Arevalo, commander of 303 infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, said the troops conducted operation following reports of the NPA’s extortion activities around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. According to investigation, the 15thIB soldiers engaged in a five-minute firefight against nine fully-armed rebels.
“The regular NPA fighters do the difficult and dirty work in the countryside and their leaders enjoy the fruits of their extortion activities,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo reiterated his call on the communist rebels to surrender to be able to lead normal lives again./PN
