Rebel camp seized anew in Catanduanes

by MA Loterte

Legazpi City (20 October) — Government soldiers seized Monday another rebel encampment in sitio Taprang-Taprang, barangay San Miguel in Panganiban town in the island province of Catanduanes, an official of the Philippine Army (PA) said.

Capt. Razaliegh Bansawan, 901st Army Brigade spokesman, said the scout platoon of the Army 83rd Infantry Battalion, led by 1st Lt. Alex Parohinog, discovered the New People’s Army (NPA) camp around 10:00 am with the help of concerned residents in the area providing information to the troopers on the presence of the campground.

Parohinog bared in his report that the camp appeared newly abandoned by the communist rebels, who now fled to the hinterlands following a series of tactical offensive launched recently by the military in the province.

The government troopers accounted from the camp five big huts, a comfort room, a kitchen and a conference area, a couple of guard houses. More or less 30 individuals took shelter in the site.

He added the camp was used by the communist guerillas in their Batayang Kursong Panlipunan lectures for the new recruits.

Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, 83rd Infantry Battalion commander, said persistent reports on sightings of NPA rebels in Bagamanoc and Panganiban towns prompted the military to conduct anew military operations.

Bansawan, meanwhile, said the series of military operation in Catanduanes already led to the discovery of the fourth guerilla camp in the island province since the deployment of military troops in the area intensifying counter insurgency campaign. (PIA V)