Military overruns NPA camp after Batangas clash

September 2, 2018

Government troops overran an encampment of New People’s Army rebels following an encounter in Lobo, Batangas early Sunday morning.

Captain Patrick Jay Retumban, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the clash transpired at around 5:45 am at Brgy. Calumpit, Lobo while the soldiers were conducting combat operation following reports from the locals that a group of NPA was collecting foodstuff and extorting money from the residents.

The troops chanced upon more or less 20 armed men that resulted to a 10 minute firefight.

Retumban said no one was hurt from the government side.

He, however, expressed belief that there were casualties from the NPA due to traces of blood stain in the encounter site. The rebels brought with them their wounded comrades when they scampered away.

The troops overrun the rebels' temporary encampment with 30 makeshift tents and recovered cellular phones, backpacks, ammunition and magazines for caliber .45 pistols, subversive documents and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

202nd Infantry (UNIFIER) Brigade commander Brigadier General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the insurgency in Batangas is now on the verge of collapse, claiming that the NPA has suffered numerous setbacks and casualties from the previous encounters with the government troops.

“And just recently, 13 of their former comrades surrendered to the government which indicates that they do not enjoy the support of the masses,” Burgos said.

The government troops have been coordinating with the police in putting up checkpoints in the province against the Maoist rebels. Ella Dionisio/DMS