Civilian tips foiled NPAs plan of collecting food stuffs

By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
November 29, 2010

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  The troops of Alpha Company of 87th Infantry battalion under 1st Lt. Taguinay L Agoy while acting on the reported presence of armed Communist Terrorists as reported by civilians through a text message, encountered more or less eight CTs one kilometer from the village on November 29, 2010 at 1:32 p.m. Accordingly, the said communist terrorists’ presence in the area was for the purpose of collecting food stuffs from the populace as scheduled. The said encounter happened while the troops were conducting combat and clearing operations at vicinity Brgy. Osmeña, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Fire fight ensued for about five minutes, after which the CTs scampered to different directions dragging with them their wounded members. No one was hurt on the government side.

The encounter is a product of a timely information provided by the local populace who are against the CTs’ harassment and extortion, a clear manifestation that they desire peace and stability in their area.

Earlier on the same day, elements of Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion under 2nd. Lt. Glenn De Ramos while conducting combat operation discovered an abandoned camp of New People’s Army at Brgy Anagasi, Paranas, Samar on November 29, 2010 at about 7:28 a.m.

Said abandoned camp has two halls (bulwagan) and has 80 bunkers that can accommodate more or less 80 Communist Terrorists (CTs).

According to Lt. Col. William Peñafiel, 34IB’s commanding officer the abandoned camp could be an alternate camp established before by Regional Guerilla Unit of Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) operating in the area that they utilized in case of discovery of their main camp.

The troops of 34IB and 87IB are currently conducting pursuit operations against the fleeing terrorists.