Army troops dismantle rebel camp in Catanduanes

by MA Loterte

Legazpi City (16 October) — Government troops raided on Thursday a rebel camp in the hinterland village of sitio Tacad, barangay Maysuran in Caramoran town in the island province of Catanduanes, an official of the Philippine Army (PA) said.

Capt. Razaliegh Bansawan, 901st Army Brigade spokesman, said the raiding army troops, however, discovered the guerilla camp already abandoned by the communist rebels, who managed to leave their camp following a series of tactical offensive launched recently by the military in the province.

Bansawan said elements of Alpha Company of the 83rd Infantry Battalion, led by 1st Lt. Edmar Gambot, raided the NPA camp around 11:00 am yesterday following a tip from concerned barangay residents and discovered the abandoned camp with eight huts, which can house more or less three comrades, a common toilet, two water points, subversive documents and personal belongings.

He added the camp was used by at least 20-man rebel group led by NPA leader Daniel Frias alias “Tabs” of the Isla Pusa Guerrilla Front operating in the island province of Catanduanes.

Bansawan also said the series of military operation in Catanduanes led to the discovery of 3 other guerilla camps since the start of the military-police pact intensifying counter insurgency campaign in the Bicol region.

MGen. Ruperto Pabustan, 9th Army Infantry Division commanding general, said the military will continue to intensify its counter insurgency measures to topple down the remaining remnants of the communist guerilla in Bicol. (PIA V)