Army capture NPA camp in Camarines Norte

MANILA, Philippines - Two soldiers were hurt in a clash in Labo, Camarines Norte last Sunday that led to the capture of a New People’s Army (NPA) camp.

Lt. Col. Michael Buhat, commander of the Philippine Army's 49th battalion, said his troops were conducting security patrol at about 3:15 p.m. when they discovered a structure that turned out to be a rebel camp.

A firefight ensued, resulting in the wounding of two soldiers identified as Privates First Class Dexter Debil and Donhel Catangay.

The NPA members then retreated, enabling the soldiers to seize the camp. Buhat described the camp as “fortified with bunkers” and “equipped with huts and bleachers.”

“Bloodstains are all over the camp,” he added.

Col. Richard Lagrana, chief of the Army’s 902nd brigade, said the camp could have been a good staging point to attack soldiers in the area. He said he has directed the conduct of pursuit operations against the rebels.

Meanwhile, security forces have discovered an NPA logistics cache in Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte last Sunday.

First Lieutenant Joe Martinez, chief of the 42nd civil-military operations company, said the cache was found by elite forces in Sitio Bato-Batohan in Barangay San Antonio.

Recovered from the area were three anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines,  a container with 20 Liters of gasoline, two rolls of detonating cord and subversive documents. – Alexis Romero