Philippine army strikes anew in Samar and Leyte

By 1Lt. MARIO JOSE M. CHICO, (INF) PA
January 22, 2007

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan Samar  –  Philippine Army troopers backed up by helicopter gunships of the Philippine Air Force pounded an uninhabited hill in Albuera, Leyte last Wednesday January 17, 2007.

Acting on information provided by farmers, troops of 802nd Infantry Brigade under BGen. Allan Ragpala and 19th Infantry Battalion under LtCol. Lope Dagoy launched military operations at the hinterlands of Albuera, Leyte. Around 30 NPA terrorists were believed to have been pinned down by military attack from the air and land.

On another development, troopers from 63rd Infantry Battalion headed by LtCol. Felimon Santos, raided and overran an NPA terrorist encampment in Northern Samar.

Operating troops under 2Lt Ariel Rosuello who have received valuable information from the civilian residents, scoured the vicinity of Brgy Sinonogan, Pambujan, Northern Samar and encountered around 30 NPA terrorists under terrorist leader alias Opal.

Army troopers captured the said NPA encampment after 15 minutes of firefight. It has 15 bunkers and a mess hall facility. The NPA terrorists suffered heavy casualties on both encounters while no casualty was inflicted on the government troopers. Recovered from the encounter sites are live ammunitions, jungle packs containing subversive documents and anti-democracy propaganda materials, SIM packs for celphones and assorted foodstuffs.

As of this time, Army troopers in Samar and Leyte are still in hot pursuit of the fleeing rebels who scampered away in different directions.