Army overruns Apayao NPA camp

KABUGAO, Apayao -- Army soldiers overran an encampment of the New People’s Army here following two encounters with about 15 armed guerrillas last Monday.

Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, Northern Luzon Command spokesman, said the NPA encampment was discovered by troopers from the army’s 50th Infantry Battalion late in the afternoon in Sitio Sibayan, Barangay Paco Valley.

Nato said the camp could accommodate up to 40 guerrillas.

It was discovered by the troopers under Joint Task Force Tala who were pursuing the 15 NPA rebels that engaged them earlier in the day.

The first encounter lasted about 30 minutes while the second exchange of gunfire between the rebels and pursuing army soldiers happened near the vicinity and lasted about 20 minutes.