PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 12, 2014) – Philippine troops have captured a communist rebel base following fierce clashes that killed a soldier and left 5 more wounded in the southern province of Misamis Occidental, an army spokesman said on Wednesday.
Capt. Jefferson Mamauag, of the 1st Infantry Division, said troops occupied the main camp used by the New People’s Army rebels under Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee in the town of Bonifacio.
He said troops raided the rebel camp following a military intelligence and information provided by civilians in the area. He said soldiers from the 15th Division Reconnaissance Company and 55th Infantry Battalion stormed the camp and clashed with rebels until the base has been captured.
The camp can accommodate over 100 rebels and surrounded by dozens of bunkers and observation posts.
Mamauag said a still undetermined number of rebels were either killed or wounded in the clashes. “The combat operation resulted to the death of one and wounding of five soldiers while undetermined numbers of casualties were inflicted on the enemy side, based on the bloodstain seen at enemy’s route of withdrawal. Medical attentions were given to the wounded. As of now, names of the casualties are withheld pending the notification of next of kin,” he said.
He said the fighting lasted more than 2 hours. “The initial fire fight ensued when the rebels were caught surprised by the soldiers in their main camp. Despite of rigorous and arduous terrain, the tenacity and perseverance of the troops prevailed to pursue their mission,” he said.
Mamauag said troops recovered various anti-government propaganda, munitions and a machine pistol, including bomb component and radio communication equipment.
There was no immediate statement from the NPA about the capture of the camp, but the rebels have been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a separate communist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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