Army lauds Leyte residents for reporting NPA presence

ORMOC CITY, Jan. 5  -- The Philippine Army has lauded the local community for reporting sightings of communist rebels in Leyte that led to a clash Thursday resulting in the killing of two suspected NPA members and recovery of firearms.

Brig. Gen. Francisco Mendoza, Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Brigade, said on Friday the NPA extortion and recruitment activities were foiled as people share valuable information to government troops.

“Our soldiers patrolled the area because we got reports from the community that a group of armed men have been conducting meetings in upland areas of Baybay City,” Mendoza told Philippine News Agency (PNA).

On Thursday morning, two rebels were killed in an hour-long gun battle between soldiers and 20 NPAs at the forested area of Hilapnitan village in Baybay.

As the rebels fled, an M-16 and M-653 rifles were recovered by the military at the encounter site, which can be reached through two hours of hiking from the national road.

The two casualties are still unidentified since authorities did not find any documents showing their identities. No one was hurt from the government side.

“The government soldiers continue doing the mandate of ensuring the safety of the people and properties against any threats. We are glad the people abhor these left-leaning groups and instead they report to the authorities once they notice the rebels’ presence in their communities,” said Army 78th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Danilo Dupiag.

Dupiag confirmed the recruitment activities in Leyte by NPA remnants as part of a massive effort to regain their former strongholds.

On Dec. 8, 2011, the government declared Leyte as manageable conflict-affected and development ready province.

The declaration implies that the internal peace and security operations in Leyte have worked and its responsibility is handed over to the local government with the military supporting peace and order efforts in the province. (ERR/PNA)