GOVERNMENT troops seized 15 mostly high-powered firearms after a firefight with a large number of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Northern Samar yesterday morning.
Capt. Jefferson Mariano, spokesman of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the rebels sustained casualties as evidenced by bloodstains found in the insurgents’ route of withdrawal.
Mariano said an NPA rebel who recently surrendered disclosed the location of an NPA hideout in the hinterlands of Barangay Magsaysay in Mapanas town.
Troops from the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion were sent to the area to conduct a military operation, leading to a firefight with about 30 rebels from the Platoon 1, Front Committee 5.
Mariano said the clash broke out at around 5 a.m. and lasted for around 20 minutes.
“They were probably surprised (by the military operation), they were not prepared, forcing them to leave their belongings,” Mariano said of the rebels.
“There were heavy bloodstains in their route of withdrawal. We’re expecting casualties (on the rebel side),” Mariano said, adding troops were still conducting clearing operations as of noon yesterday.
