Troops overrun alleged NPA lair in Surigao del Norte

June 4, 2020

Troops overran an alleged New People's Army (NPA) lair and recovered war materiel following an encounter in Surigao del Norte on Wednesday.

2nd Lt. Benjamin Elisand De Dios, civil military operations officer of the 30th Infantry Battalion,  said the troops encountered the armed men at the vicinity of Campo Langit, Brgy Camp Edward, Alegria, Surigao del Norte.

De Dios said the troops were responding to the reported presence of the rebels who conduct extortion when they engaged the armed men believed to be members of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) 16C, Guerilla Front 16 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

He said the rebels abandoned their lair and withdraw towards the mountainous area after a 45-minute firefight.

De Dios said the enemy lair could accommodate around 50  armed men,

Troops seized one M16 rifle with M203 grenade launcher, two anti-personnel mines (APM), five rounds of cal. 50, 16 M203 ammunition, assorted magazines, one Icom radio, three cellular phones, eight backpacks and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

"No casualty was reported on the government side while there are undetermined casualties on the enemy’s side as evidenced by the bloodstains found along their route of withdrawal," De Dios said.

In his statement, Lt. Col. Ryan Charles Callanta, commanding officer of 30th IB, emphasized the importance of citizens support to the success of a military operation.

"The overwhelming support of the populace who are already fed up of the rebels’ assaults and atrocities provided our security forces timely information leading to a successful operation that brings us one step closer to peace and prosperity," he said. Robina Asido/DMS