Soldiers discover NPA camps in Ifugao town

By Vency D. Bulayungan

ASIPULO, Ifugao--Military troops recently discovered several New People’s Army camps here through information provided by villagers.

Capt. Randy Silvestre, Civil Military Operations Officer of the 86th Infantry Battalion bared this saying the camps were discovered were in sitios and barangays of Asipulo in the hinterlands of Ifugao.

           

“These include a training camp and adjacent camps as forward posts,” Silvestre said adding the camps were just recently vacated due to series of operations of 86IB troops.

           

He said the presence of these camps posed economic difficulty to the adjacent communities because NPA guerillas get food from local residents. “Forests are also in danger of being abused with illegal cutting of trees by these NPAs.” 

           

He said bringing inside the forest food supplies intended for Red fighters during their trainings resulted to waste materials such as plastic, bottles, cans and other non-biodegradable waste products polluting the environment.

           

Silvestre said establishment of said camps was a ploy of the NPA to project their force.

           

In September of 2011, a civilian was reportedly shot dead by fleeing NPAs who were then conducting training in SitioBinablayan, Amduntog, Asipulo.

           

As a result, a number of families were displaced from the village.