Army captures 3 alleged NPA rebels in Quezon

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Three suspected New People’s Army rebels were captured by Army soldiers following an encounter in Lopez, Quezon, Wednesday afternoon, said Colonel Eduardo Año, head of the Army’s 201st Infantry Brigade.

Año said a team of soldiers were sent to the village of Canda Ilaya in Lopez around 12:30 p.m. after the military received information that a group of 10 NPA rebels was at the village collecting “revolutionary taxes” from residents.

When the soldiers arrived in the area, a short exchange of gunfire ensued and forced the communist guerillas to escape.

Ano said the rebels left behind a backpack that contained NPA documents and an alleged list of donors to the rebel movement. He declined from revealing the names on the purported list.

In a hot pursuit operation that immediately followed, the Army soldiers again engaged the escaping NPA rebels in an exchange of gunfire that led to the capture of three male rebels, Año said.

The captured rebels, who still remained unidentified, were placed in the custody of the Lopez police for interrogation, Año said.

He said the Army soldiers also recovered two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle and ammunition from the captured rebels.