Soldiers, NPA rebels in Batangas clash anew

SAN PEDRO CITY — Soldiers on Sunday overran a rebel camp in Lobo town in Batangas province shortly after a brief encounter with members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Captain Patrick Jay Retumban, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the ten-minute clash happened around 5:45 a.m. in Barangay (village) Calumpit. Soldiers under the Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion encountered at least 20 rebels who they believe were part of the same rebel unit that they encountered on July 31 in San Juan town.

Retumban said residents in the area tipped off the police and Army of the NPA’s presence and its alleged extortion activities.

He said the soldiers found improvised explosive devices, backpacks, cellphones, and documents from what seemed to be a “temporary” NPA camp, with about 20 makeshift tents, that the rebels left behind as they retreated.

No one from the Army’s side was hurt, he added. /je