2 NPAs slain in Mt Prov; troops seize bomb-making materials from rebel camp

REBEL LAIR -- Soldiers and policemen find materials used for explosive devices from a rebel camp in Mountain Province Oct. 31. – Bauko, Mountain Province police photo 

By Vince Jacob Visaya

BESAO, Mountain Province –A New People's Army leader and his companion were killed here in Barangay Gueday Oct. 30 in an encounter when Army soldiers from Bravo Company of the 69th Infantry Battalion were having combat operations and chanced upon the rebels.
    A firefight allegedly ensued between the Army soldiers and the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla Abra-Mountain Province-Ilocos Sur of the NPA, led by Marcos Kina-ud Yocogan alias Corel or Timmy.
    After the encounter, the bodies of Yocogan, a native of Bangaan, Sagada, Mountain Province, and his comrade, identified only as Simon, were found.
    Seized were two M16 rifles, two bandoliers with nine magazines, two two-way radios, an IED, a flashlight, medical supplies, personal belongings and subversive documents.
    Soldiers of the 69th IB said the 10-minute gunfight occurred when they chanced upon the group of rebels in Sitio Masameyeo in Barangay Gueday.
    Two R4 rifles were recovered from the fatalities.
    A few hours later on Oct. 31, Army soldiers and policemen overran a suspected abandoned rebel encampment.
    The military and police said the camp was located at the boundaries of Bantey in Tadian town, Banguitan in Besao and Balintaugan in Bauko, all in Mountain Province.
    Soldiers from the 69th Infantry Battalion and police teams from Mountain Province and Bauko discovered the site during joint security operations in the area.
    Found in the encampment were an antipersonnel improvised explosive device (IED), 31 sticks of commercial dynamite, marked Nitro EM 1500 emulsion explosives, a mine container with detonating cord and seven meters of wire, a blue plastic drum, two "Batayang Kurso ng Partido" books, assorted belongings, food and 20 foxholes.
    The military said two rebels were also killed in a clash with state troopers in Barangay Mainit in Bontoc recently.
Various firearms were seized from fatalities.