3 NPAs killed as Army overruns Isabela camp

BY JOAN CAPUNA

GAMU, Isabela – Army troops belonging to the 5th Infantry Division overrun an abandoned camp of the New People’s Army after a two-hour gunbattle that led to the death of three rebels in a remote mountain village here on July 30.

At Camp Melchor De La Cruz here, Maj. Rodrigo Maclang said his men from the 52nd Division Reconnaissance Company, were conducting a combat operations early morning that day in Sitio Lumalog, Barangay Cadsalan in San Mariano town when they came across the camp
allegedly being used by the rebels as a staging point for armed activities.

The two-hour firefight started at around 6:30 a.m. Pfc. Jose Fernandez was wounded and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The camp had 20 bunkers capable of housing 60 rebels, a kitchen, a classroom-cum-mess hall, latrine and three guard posts.

The troops recovered a rifle, five hand grenades, high-explosives detonating cords, electrical wire and material, medical and dental paraphernalia, 10 jungle packs and four sacks of other personal belongings and documents.

The three rebel fatalities were taken by the troops to the nearest mortuary in town.

On the same day, two NPA rebels were slain in a firefight with another infantry unit near the town of Calabanga, said regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Rhoderic Parayno.

Maclang later, commended his men for a job well done, praising the informants too for their “selfless concern and courage.”

Maclang said military intelligence showed the rebel strength was on a downturn from around 1,000 in 1999 to around 450 last year.