NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur – Elements of the Philippine Army 41st Infantry Battalion captured one of the biggest camps of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the mountainous area of Tubo, Abra, a senior military officer reported.

Lt. Colonel Angelito De Leon, commander of the army’s 41st Infantry Battalion based in Langilang, Abra, reported to Col. Manuel E. Mariano Jr., commander of the Army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade based in Sulve, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, that a platoon of army soldiers led by a “Lt. Guway” took control of the NPA camp, composed of 25 makeshift huts, capable of accommodating 70 rebels.

The camp was abandoned by the rebels earlier because of continuing massive military operations in the area.

Prior to this, undetermined numbers of communist rebels were reportedly wounded and killed in the latest gunbattle between army troopers and rebels in the mountainous areas at barangay Alangtin, Tubo, Abra.

The wounded rebels were reportedly carried by their comrades while withdrawing from their firefight with elements of the Army’s 53rd Reconnaissance Company.
Soldiers saw several bloodstains and detached flesh at the rebels’ route of withdrawal.

Mariano disclosed that the rebels group was the one that engaged government troopers in previous encounters in the mountainous areas of the Cordillera.