Army seize NPA lair near Ayungon ambush site

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An alleged camp of the New People’s Army (NPA) was seized by the  Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) at the boundary of Sitio Yamut and Sitio Talaptapan, Barangay Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental on Wednesday, October 23.

According to the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), the camp, which can accommodate 15 persons, is located a kilometer away from the ambush site where four members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6 were brutally murdered by the NPA last July 18, 2019.

The camp was discovered following reports from civilians about the alleged presence of an armed group at the said village. However, the alleged rebels have already vacated the place before military troopers arrived.

Authorities recovered from the camp three rifle scopes, five detonators for anti-personnel landmine, eight shirts with NPA logo print, medical kit, handcuffs, personal belongings, axe, hammer, rope, bag, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Lieutenant Colonel Randy Pagunuran, 94th IB commander, said “this clearly shows that the civilians do not like the presence of NPA terrorists in their area. They are now cooperating and doing their part in order to make the communities peaceful and free from NPA influence”.

“I urge the people of Ayungon to continue reporting the presence of NPAs in their communities in order for us to prevent their extortion and other terroristic activities in the area”, he added.