Firearms recovered from Reds in Masbate clash

CAMP NAKAR, Lucena City – Assorted high-powered firearms were recovered after a gunfight between government troops and seven mebers of New People’s Army (NPA) in Purok 7, Barangay Banase in Baleno, Masbate province on Dec. 8.

According to a report released on Thursday by the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM), the military offensives against the communists were conducted by troops of the 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB), 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA) and the Police Regional Office (PRO5) and Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) operatives at about 5:35 a.m.

Lt. Col. John Oliver Gabun, Army’s 2IB commanding officer said the encounter happened when the army troopers led by 2nd Lieutenant Orville Jos Daniel B. Latap conducted their combat operation after a tip by a civilian informant on the presence of armed NPAs in the area extorting money from the villagers.

Colonel Greg T. Almerol, Army commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade reported that “the 2IB troops recovered two M-16 rifles, a rifle grenade, a long magazine of 10 rounds of live ammunitions for M-16 rifle and subversive documents.

A number of NPAs were also wounded during the firefight.

Following the armed encounter by the combined military and police forces, Brigadier General Ernesto V. Ravina Jr, acting SOLCOM Commander, said government forces “will intensify our Internal Security Operations (ISO) against all security threats particularly with the CPP-NPA-NDF.”

CPP is the Communist Party of the Philippines and NDF is the National Democratic Front.

Ravina also assured SOLCOM’s full support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s latest pronouncements in tagging the CCP-NPA as a terrorist group.

“All our operations are within the framework of the rule of law and respect for human rights to protect the Filipino People and to ensure stable security conditions in the area,” he stressed. (Pau Mojar/PNA)

Popular

PBBM all set for SONA 2025; Speech to last for over an hour —PCO

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has finished rehearsing his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), which is estimated to last for...

House, Senate open 20th Congress’ 1st session

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet The House of Representatives formally opened its first regular session for the 20th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City...

97% of Filipinos aware of VP Sara impeachment complaints—OCTA survey

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Majority of Filipinos across socio-economic classes and across the archipelago are aware of the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara...

PBBM conducts aerial inspection of flood-hit Pampanga

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday conducted an aerial inspection of flood-stricken areas in Pampanga province. He...