NPA camp in Northern Samar falls to military

MANILA, Philippines – A New People’s Army camp was captured by government troops following a series of encounters in Northern Samar from June 7 to June 9, the military said in a belated report.

Lieutenant Colonel Noel Vestuir, Commanding Officer of the 20th Infantry Battalion, said troops pursued the rebels on June 7 after receiving information that they were going house to house to extort food from villagers at the tri-boundaries of the municipalities of Bobon, Catarman and San Isidro.

Troops led by Second Lieutenant Peter Galula chanced upon about 10 communist rebels and a five-minute gunbattle erupted.

Another encounter took place the next day, which was followed by two more skirmishes until the following day, June 9.

The military said the rebel camp fell after the rebels withdrew.

The camp has 35 beds that can accommodate about 70 persons.

“The government troops had dislodged them from their guerrilla camps and cut-off their supply support lines that they forcibly took from residents in the area,” Vestuir said.

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