CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Government security forces have overrun a camp of the New People’s Army (NPA) following a firefight in Lopez, Quezon, officials said yesterday.
Troopers of the Army’s 741st Infantry Battalion were conducting a routine combat operation when they encountered at least 20 rebels near the Baliswang Complex at around 6:20 a.m. on Friday, according to Quezon police director Senior Superintendent Eugenio Paguirigan.
The firefight lasted 30 minutes, forcing the NPA rebels to flee toward Mulanay town.
Paguirigan said the camp could accommodate 20 to 30 persons.
“No one among the soldiers was wounded in the firefight,” Paguirigan said, adding pursuing troopers found bloodstains along the rebels’ escape routes.
Police and military set up checkpoints in adjacent areas and alerted their units to check hospitals for rebels who were wounded in the firefight.
Security forces recovered from the camp an improvised explosive device, ammunition, food and materials used in making IEDs.