Army captures 2 NPA camps in Samar

MANILA, Philippines - Army troops captured on Monday two camps of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Samar after separate clashes with the communist rebels.

Lt. Col. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion, said the seized rebel camps were located at the boundary of Catarman, Bobon and Lope de Vega towns.

Vestuir said his troops had received reports from civilians about armed men in an area between Barangays San Julian and San Pascual of Catarman town.

“Early morning, the troops proceeded to the said area and caught the enemy by surprise. Firefight ensued for about an hour that forced the enemy to withdraw towards different directions,” he said. 

After the clash, the troops overran the camp, which has 20 bunkers that could accommodate about 30 rebels.

Soldiers also recovered 460 rounds of ammunition for a machine gun link, one sack of rice, kitchen utensils, cooking paraphernalia, personal belongings and a bag of documents.

“The government troops suffered no casualty while on the enemy side, there are undetermined number of wounded as troops found traces of blood in the former enemy position,” Vestuir said.

He said government troops overran and seized another encampment after another encounter at around 12:30 p.m. of the same day.

The captured camp has 30 bunkers that can accommodate about 60 insurgents.