Female NPA rebel nabbed, weapons seized in Abra skirmish

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, ISABELA – A female rebel was captured following a July 1 skirmish between army soldiers and the New People’s Army at Boliney town in Abra province, the military said on Monday.

The rebel, identified only as “Ka Joana”, was caught when soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion engaged 30 NPA rebels during patrols along Sitio (sub-village) Tinalban, Kilong-olao village at 3 p.m., said Lt. Col. Thomas Dominic Baluga, 24IB commander.

The military seized three M-16 Armalite rifles, an M-203 grenade launcher and two M-14 Armalite rifles after the rebels retreated.

The soldiers also recovered 15 backpacks containing personal belongings, communist documents, two hand-held radios, eight mobile telephones, various medical paraphernalia, a binocular, assorted bullets and magazines for M-16 and M-14 rifles. JE/rga