2 abandoned NPA camps found in Iloilo

CEBU, Philippines - Within a two-day security operations, Philippine Army soldiers from the 82nd Infantry “Bantay-Laya” Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division have discovered two rebel bases in southern Iloilo province.

Major Ray Tiongson, 3rd ID spokesman, said the soldiers ran into suspected camps of the New People’s Army, first in Tubungan town on February 6 and then another in Miag-ao town on February 8.

Tiongson said the NPA camp in Tubungan, 40 kilometers from the capital city of Iloilo, can accommodate around 70 persons and had 12 bunkers, 15 posts, two comfort rooms, a classroom and a kitchen. It was located in the hinterland village of Igpaho.

The second discovered camp was in Barangay Ongyod of Miag-ao, which could hole up to 50 persons and has 20 bunkers, five observation posts, two comfort rooms and a structure that appears to be the rebels’ administrative building.

Tiongson said the recent development has strengthened the earlier pronouncement of the 3rd ID that the rebels’ numbers are declining. “While they have the camp, they have very limited combatants to occupy it. They have been struggling with their manpower,” he added.

Colonel Eric Uchida, commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, said the discovery of the NPA camps was a clear manifestation that the rebel group continued to lose its grounds and its mass base of support.

Record showed that, in 2014, a total of 42 NPA camps were discovered by the 3rd ID troops in their area of responsibility. Eighteen of these were in Panay and 24 were in Negros Occidental.

Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, 3ID commander, has vowed to intensify its peace and development efforts through bayanihan. “The Army is in constant coordination and collaboration with the stakeholders in attaining peace and development throughout the region,” he added. — Jennifer P. Rendon (FREEMAN)