BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Army soldiers have seized a temporary encampment of the New People’s Army, following an encounter with its occupants on July 14 in Sitio Hanot, Brgy. Inayawan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
Lt.Col. Michael Cuarteros, 15th Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said that rebel hideout was reported by residents in the area to the Philippine Army, who immediately responded.
The joint operation of the 15th and 47th Infantry Battalions led to an encounter with about 10 communist rebels led by Ka Kumpol, who fled after about 10 minutes of gunbattle, Cuarteros said.
Recovered from the rebel camp were a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine containing ammunition; a hand grenade; 50 meters of electric wire; two cellular phones with chargers, a charger of a Baofeng Radio, medical paraphernalia, several backpacks containing personal belongings, anti-personnel mine accessories and subversive documents.
Cuarteros lauded the civilians for their timely information.
He reiterated his call for the rebel remnants to surrender, before it will be too late for them.
“For those who refuse, we will track you down until you are incapable of victimizing civilians and destroying innocent lives,” Cuarteros added.*
