8ID troops seized
NPA explosives in Samar
By DPAO, 8ID PA
November 19, 2014
CATBALOGAN CITY –
Government troops seized several Improvised Explosive Devices in the
hinterlands of the Municipality of Basey, Samar in the afternoon of
November 19, 2014.
According to the report of
Lt Col Miguel E. Ceballos, Commanding Officer, 20th Infantry
Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, his troops were
conducting security operations in the vicinity of Sitio, Bega,
Barangay Mabini, Basey Samar when some residents tipped-off the
presence of suspicious wires laid along the trail in the outskirt of
the said barangay. According to the residents, they believe that these
wires are part of several IEDs planted intentionally to inflict
casualties to government troops operating in the area. Further, the
civilians' safety is threatened as these will also destroy innocent
lives and properties.
Guided by concerned
residents in the locality, the soldiers went to the said area and were
able to recover twenty (20) sets of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
As of this time, government troops continue to scour the area for
possible presence of more IEDs in the area.
Meanwhile, Maj Gen Velarmino,
Commander of the 8th Infantry Division extended his gratitude and
thanks to the civilians who provided the information to that led to
the successful recovery of said explosives. He further added that the
action of the NPA is a clear manifestation that they violate the
provisions stipulated under the Geneva Convention on the use of land
mines in armed warfare. Velarmino further added that the 8ID under his
leadership will stop at nothing in order to attain Peace and
Development in Region VIII which is the dream of every Samareños in
the region.
