NPA main camp in Northern Samar discovered by gov’t troops

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar – The encounter between Army’s 8th Infantry Division troopers and the armed members of the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of San Jose de Buan municipality in Samar at around 1:00 p.m. last September 18, 2010, lead to the discovery and seizure of an NPA main camp located at about 500 meters from the earlier reported encounter site.

Report reaching this headquarters from Col. Oscar P Lopez, Commanding Officer of 803rd Infantry Brigade in the area, disclosed that the operating troops were able seize the said camp after the terrorists hastily left the area. The said camp has 43 bunkers with two classrooms that could accommodate large number of NPA personalities. Also, the operating troops recovered two generator sets, a water pump and tank, dream cable set, two ICOM handheld radios, three hand grenades, Universal Serial Bus (USBs) for computers, one sack of rice, a cache of assorted caliber ammunitions and subversive documents that contains important information.

Major General Mario Chan, Commander of the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army lauded his troops for a job well done and for exerting every effort and dedicating their lives in the accomplishment of the said task. He stressed that the 8ID troops shall continue to perform its mandate of protecting the people.

Meanwhile, Major General Arturo Ortiz, the Commanding General of the Philippine Army and Lieutenant General Ralph Villanueva of the Central Command, AFP had conveyed to the troops their deep satisfaction on their efforts of addressing the threat groups in the area of Region 8. ###

Another NPA Camp Discovered in Samar

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar – Another Communist Terrorist camp felled into the hands of the operating troops of Army’s 803^rd Infantry Brigade at the hinterland barangays near the boundaries of Las Navas Northern Samar and Matuguinao Western Samar on September 18, at about 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

In a report reaching this headquarters, the troops of 803^rd Infantry Brigade led by 1lt Onipig while reacting to a reported presence of Communist terrorist as tipped in by residents in the nearby area, encountered more or less 30 members of the Communist Terrorist New Peoples’ Army (NPA). This resulted to the discovery of an enemy encampment, the killing of one (1) unidentified communist terrorist, the recovery of one M16 rifle to include its bandoleer with ammunitions and some personal belongings of the terrorists.

Meanwhile, Colonel Oscar Lopez, Commander of the 803^rd Infantry Brigade, based in Camp Sumoroy, Catarman Northern Samar, commended his troops for a job well done.

On the other hand, Major General Mario F Chan, Commander of the 8^th Infantry Division based at Camp Lukban, Maulong Catbalogan, Samar, appreciated the relentless support of the civilian populace in providing valuable information leading to the success of the said operation.

He also prompted his soldiers to continue the effort in its Internal Security Operations in Region 8, continue their efforts in securing the people while strictly observing the rights of the civilians and even the rights of the terrorists.

78IB troopers seized Marijuana plantation

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar – 7,435 stalks of fully grown prohibited marijuana plants with an estimated cash value amounting to P2.2M were seized by the elements of the Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion in So. Liki, Brgy Magsaysay, Balambam, Cebu, on September 10 2010 at around 11:00 a.m.

Report reaching this office, state that the 78IB troops led by 2nd Lieutenant Bulayungan together with Mark David Maramba, Intel Officer 3, of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 7 (PDEA-7) in coordination with the Philippine National Police of Balamban uprooted the marijuana plants.

The confiscated marijuana plants are now in the custody of 78IB as of press time and scheduled to be turned-over to PDEA-7 for evidence and proper disposition.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Nolasco A Mempin, 78IB’s commanding officer expressed his heartfelt thanks to the civilians who tipped the information leading to the discovery of the said marijuana plantation.

“The 78IB in close coordination with PDEA-7 will continue to support Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s “All out War” against Illegal drugs”, said Lt. Col. Mempin. He stressed that, the success of the said operation is a result of a concerted effort of all government agencies in the area. ###

Civilian tips results encounter

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar – The Army’s 34^th Infantry Battalion encountered some 50 armed members of the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in the boundaries of barangays Caranas and Hinacaan of Motiong, WSamar 5:00 a.m. this morning.

Report reaching this headquarters from 34IB disclosed that Corporal Michael Angel received a report from undisclosed civilian that armed men wearing tafita clothes are frequently seen loitering in the outskirts of said barangay. The presence of the said armed group, caused terror and uneasiness to the populace in the locality.

With the desire to address the threat brought by the said terror group and to defend the civilians, elements of 34IB conducted security patrols within the periphery of that barangay and its nearby sitios.

This resulted to an encounter between the troops and the enemy that resulted to the killing of one enemy and the recovery of a camouflage backpack and one (1) upper hand guard of M16 rifle.

One soldier was also reported to have been killed in the said encounter.

Lt. Col. William Peñafiel, 34IB’s commanding officer commended the heroism of his fallen troop and said that risking lives is just part and parcel of the military profession for the people to continuously enjoy their right to live.

“Soldiers never die, they just pass away. We will be surely missing him but his acts of courage and commitment to duty will always remain in the memories of the people he has served. We share in the sorrow felt by his family and loved ones and we will never forget his act of heroism and the invaluable contribution he made in service to our country and people”, says Lt. Col. Peñafiel.

Meanwhile, Major General Mario Chan, the 8ID’s head, expressed his appreciation to the concerned individuals and civilian who relentlessly supported the efforts of their Army to ultimately attain peace and development in the province.

He further directed the troops to continuously pursue the fleeing enemy in order to fullyliberate the area from the CTs influence that would pave the way for the attainment of the lasting peace and development. ###