Military finds abandoned NPA camp in N. Samar

MANILA, Philippines – Soldiers on Friday discovered an abandoned camp believed to belong to New People’s Army rebels in Northern Samar, a military official said.

In a text message, Lieutenant Colonel Noel Vestuir said that at 8:45 a.m. Friday, troops of the 28th Infantry Brigade’s Charlie Company led by First Lieutenant Forencio Tayo III and 2nd Lieutenant Al Peter Galula discovered the camp in the vicinity of Barangay (village) Gebunawan, Lope de Vega.

The camp was found some 300 meters northwest away from another abandoned rebel settlement which was discovered Thursday.

The newly discovered camp could accommodate about 20 rebels and had several makeshift bunkers which were intentionally destroyed by the rebels before fleeing the settlement, Vestuir said. He added that they believed the camps had been abandoned for two days.

Meanwhile, soldiers will continue searching the area for possible alternate camps, Vestuir added.