Army raid foils planned attacks, shakes local leadership of communist rebels
Newly-activated army soldiers out on the field and into the battleground gained a major upper hand against forces of communist terrorists New People's Army (NPA) here.
This, after Wednesday's raid of an NPA training ground in Igbaras, Iloilo, in what now stands to be a highly-successful government operation and a "baptism of fire" for the fresh army graduates.
With continued manhunt on the rebels in the hinterland villages of Southern Iloilo, The News Today (TNT) gathered that volumes of subversive documents recovered from the raid showed highly-classified planned offensives of the communist group. Notes left behind by the rebel trainees and trainors further disclosed of specifics in said offensives with the forthcoming election a major operation for the rebel group.
De-coding is underway with the recovered and seized documents now in the hands of Army intelligence officials.
The training ground was located on a remote and forested area of Sitio Tangyan, Barangay Pasi. Given the structures built – makeshift huts, about 34 foxholes, perimeter security cum observation posts, firing range and a well-built tunnel for snipers – TNT sources said the rebel camp could have been up at least a month now.
Igbaras has since been identified as among the location for NPA boot camps in the province. New recruits usually students invited in legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) are brought here for "immersion"and training.
With a civilian guide in tow, the army soldiers trekked for two hours with the NPA lair fully surrounded and secured thereafter.
Bernard Broniola of Bombo Radyo Iloilo was among the reporters present.
In a report, Broniola said the communist-terrorists' camp can very well accommodate up to 170 people with the tunnel sturdily built.
Documents were scattered everywhere, he added, including personal belongings and computer parts. The camp also appeared to have been professionally-made, Broniola continued, saying a huge black tent provided ample covering to the camp with at least two power generator sets on the side. The rebel-trainees and trainors were apparently alerted of the soldiers' attack with the camp within the strong signal coverage of two leading mobile phone service providers.
An alias "Carol" was among the camp's occupants with more coded messages and instructions left. Prominently displayed was the red flag of the CPP-NPA.
The area has since been monitored and guarded by government troops, the rebel forces under the party Southern Front Committee.
The army troopers were led by 79th Infantry Batallion Commander, Lt. Col. Nestor Porlucas and Army Col.David Tan.
"We will continue to scour the area and will not stop till we get them," David's radio pronouncement went.