Week-long clashes with New People’s Army guerillas in Sorsogon yielded high-powered firearms, home-made explosives and a laptop computer storing rebel tax collections.
Army 9th Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Angelo Guzman said that Army troopers recovered an M-16 rifle, an M-14 Garand rifle, an M-653 (Baby Armalite), an AK-47 assault rifle, an improvised explosive device (IED) and seven bagpacks of subversive documents.
Guzman said 903rd Brigade commander Col. Felix Castro dispatched a seven-man team under the 49th Infantry Battalion to check reported rebel activities in Palale, Bulan, Sorsogon, when it clashed with the rebels for 20 minutes. Army team leader 1Lt. Jerry Colago said they were approaching three men fixing their hammocks near a hut when they were fired upon by the latter and fled. Colago said bloodstains were found on the trails, indicating some of the rebels were wounded. He said the rebels left behind their firearms and bagpacks in their haste to escape.
On July 5, an NPA rebel surrenderee, led troopers from the 49th IB to a rebel hideout in Bgy. Tugawe, Gubat town which resulted in a five-minute firefight.
The troopers recovered a laptop computer which revealed rebel tax collections in Sorsogon.
Earlier in San Ramon, Barcelona, Sorsogon, troopers from the 49th IB also recovered improvised explosives, two triggering devices, a 250-meter electrical wire, four small batteries, cellphones and bagpacks after a 15-minute firefight with the rebels which injured Pfc. Ariel Matutina in the left arm.
Guzman said they had initiated 18 combat operations against the NPA rebels since last January and repelled 14 NPA attacks mostly in Sorsogon and Masbate .
In the said encounters, government troopers recovered 12 landmines, assorted high-powered firearms and improvised explosives. (news)
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