GOVERNMENT troops overran a camp of the New People’s Army after a firefight with NPA rebels in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte on Sunday, the military reported yesterday.
The 30th Infantry Battalion, based in Gigaguit, Surigao del Norte, said its personnel conducted patrol in Barangay Pungtod after receiving reports about the presence of rebels extorting food from residents in the area.
During the patrol, the soldiers were waylaid by an undetermined number of rebels from the NPA’s Sandatahang Yunit Pangpropaganda 16C2 and 16C1, both of the NPA Guerrilla Front 16.
The rebels disengaged after a 30-minute firefight.
No casualty was reported on either side.
Soldiers seized the NPA camp and recovered a cal. 5.56 mm AR15 rifle, an M203 grenade rifle, assorted ammunition, a detonating device for an improvised bomb, documents, and personal belongings.
30th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Charles Callanta thanked the residents for reporting the presence of the rebels.
