CAPAS, Tarlac – Joint assault teams from the Philippine and US armed forces, backed by armored vehicles, artillery and close air support, yesterday “raided” a suspected “terrorist camp” in the mountains, resulting in the “neutralization” of some insurgents.
Upon receipt of reliable intelligence information on the presence of the enemy encampment, the allied forces immediately planned an attack to be carried out with surgical precision by highly trained Marine and Army troops.
And like a scene from a blockbuster movie, the operation was carried out at exactly 9 a.m. yesterday, with tanks, assault vehicles and trucks loaded with troops rolling into the lahar-covered Crow Valley.
When the teams arrived at the target, they immediately positioned snipers and mortar units in strategic areas, giving them the advantage over the terrorists, and suddenly, bursts of gunfire roared from barrels of machine guns mounted on APCs, to soften the terrorists’ resistance.
The enemy’s lair was then pounded with mortar rounds coming from a firebase nearby, resulting in the death of several insurgents.
When the target was softened, ground troops, backed by machine gun fire, made their advance to the encampment for the final assault and capture of the camp.
Finally, the operation ended successfully without any casualties from the allied forces and civilians.
It could have hog the headlines, except that it was just part of the bilateral exercises between US and RP troops dubbed Balikatan 2008, an annual event that is aimed at enhancing the interoperability of the two armed forces in times of need, particularly in the global war against terrorism, as well as in disasters and calamities.
Maj. Ramon Zagala, public information officer of the exercises, said yesterday’s live fire exercises were done with utmost consideration for the safety of the participants, the civilians and the environment.