2 NPA rebels nabbed in Camarines Sur

MANILA, Philippines - Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were captured on Friday after an encounter with Army troops in Camarines Sur, the military said.

Cpt. Mardjorie Panesa, spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Division, said government troops were conducting patrols in Barangay Sagrada in Iriga City when they were fired upon by undetermined number of rebels at 5:10 a.m.

A ten-minute encounter then ensued, resulting in the capture of two insurgents and the recovery of two M653 baby armalite, an M203 rifle and subversive documents. Authorities were still validating the identities of the captured NPA members as of Friday.

The Task Group Cam Sur and the 22nd Infantry Battalion have turned over the captured rebels to the Iriga police for the filing of criminal charges.

There are about 4,000 NPA members nationwide based on latest Army estimates.