Military recovers extortion list after Tapaz encounter
A list of extortion targets and a rifle grenade were among the recoveries made by the military following Sunday morning’s encounter in Tapaz, Capiz.
Lasting some 5 minutes, the firefight was between armed elements of communist terrorists New People’s Army (NPA) and government operatives.
In a report, Captain Lowen Gil Marquez told The News Today (TNT) that the encounter took place along Barangay Aglinab of said municipality. The site has since been identified as potential encounter area frequented by the NPAs.
Captain Marquez said at least five NPAs were involved in the latest skirmish with government forces led by a certain Francisco alias Ka Tonying of the Central Front Committee.
The NPAs are the armed elements of the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front (CPP- NDF).
Marquez added that troops belonging to the 47th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army managed to overpower the communist terrorist group. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties as the NPAs fled to nearby adjoining villages of Barangay Lahog and Takayan.
Philippine Army’s Private First Class Rey Encolecio led the government offensive with no injuries from the Army group.
Hot pursuit continues, Captain Marquez said.
Marquez is the commanding officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 3rd Civil Relations Group.