Police, soldiers overrun NPA camp

Nov 19, 2011 (The Manila Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- COMBINED elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) seized a New People's Army (NPA) camp in the hinterlands of Catarman, Northern Samar.

Lieutenant Colonel Noel A. Vestuir, Commanding Officer, 20th Infantry Battalion (20 IB) in his report to 803rd Brigade Commander, Col.Oscar Lopez, disclosed Friday that the camp was seized by the troops of 3rd Regional Public Safety Mobile Company, which is under the control of 20IB.

According to Vestuir, the camp has 14 bunkers that can accommodate about 20 people.

"It has just been abandoned by the communists as they evaded armed engagement with the operating troops," he said.

The troops also recovered one empty bandolier, ammunition pouch and dry cell batteries. The camp was discovered after 20IB launched sustained combat operations in the area of Catarman in response to the series of killing incidents perpetrated by the communist terrorists early this week.

Vestuir said that a certain Allan Martinez, was forcibly abducted and shot to death by six unidentified communist terrorists in his residence at barangay Cal-Igang, Catarman, Northern Samar last November 10.

In the evening of the same day, he added, the communists also abducted and killed a certain Romeo Salazar Lovino at barangay New Rizal in Catarman.

"The series of recent killings perpetrated by the NPAs in the area of Catarman is again a ploy of the communist terrorists to instill fear among the peace loving people as their means of getting their support which is in consonance to the Maoist dictum of 'kill one to terrorize one thousand,'" Vestuir said.

He added that the said liquidations were another deception to the PNP and military, saying that once authorities react, the communists would establish an ambush along the route similar to what they did in brgy Imelda last year where they planted landmines that killed and injured a number of responding PNP personnel.

Vestuir also lauded his troops particularly the PNP for a job well done and further commended the collaborative efforts between the PNP and the Philippine Army.

He also thanked the continued support of the people in the government's efforts of "winning the peace".

"Through the timely and accurate information tipped by the residents, our troops were able to discover the NPA encampment, a staging place of their terroristic activities in the area. The seizure of the said NPA encampment is a big blow to the communists considering that we have denied them of their safe haven and sanctuary and once again proven that the people are with us in our pursuit for peace in this part of the country," Vestuir said.