Soldiers overrun NPA camp in Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – The military dealt the New People’s Army (NPA) another crushing blow after elements of the Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion overran one of its camps in Jippapad, Eastern Samar last Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Hermilo Demafiles, 14th IB commanding officer, said his troops were conducting security operations when they were tipped off about the NPA camp.

The troops recovered improvised explosive devices, including four landmines, a pair of combat shoes, a backpack, assorted toiletries and kitchenware, medicine and personal belongings.

Also on Tuesday, Army personnel belonging to the 25th Infantry Battalion clashed with communist rebels in the hinterland boundary of Monkayo and Sta. Josefa towns in Compostela Valley, killing four insurgents.

In a separate clash in eastern Sorsogon, soldiers surrounded a house and fired at the occupants who refused to surrender, killing two rebels and capturing three others.

The sporadic fighting happened just a few days after the Aquino administration and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) agreed on a 19-day Yuletide ceasefire to pave the way for the start of formal peace talks.

At Camp Nakar in Lucena City, Quezon, Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr., Calabarzon police director, said his command fully supports the mutual ceasefire, adding that the cessation of hostilities is a positive sign of the efforts of the Aquino administration to promote lasting peace with the insurgents.

While waiting for a clear-cut policy or protocol that the peace panel, through the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee, would issue in relation to the rebels’ movement during the duration of the ceasefire, Pagdilao directed all police chiefs to remind their personnel to refrain from conducting activities that may be misinterpreted by the other side as an act of aggression or violation of the mutual truce.

He, however, said the Southern Tagalog police would continue to defend communities against criminal activities.

Pagdilao said the ceasefire is an appropriate time for the CPP to bring to light the truth behind the real condition of NPA spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal because the public has the right to know.

The military has received field reports that Rosal, who has failed to grant media interviews in the past several months, is dead but the CPP has kept mum on his real condition.

Rosal, who hails from Quezon, uses the Sierra Madre mountains as his base of operation. – With Non Alquitran, Michelle Zoleta, Edith Regalado