31IB seized abandoned rebel camp in Sorsogon

SORSOGON CITY, Feb 11 (PIA) – Troops of Charlie Company of the 31^st Infantry Battalion under 1Lt Rory P. Esico scored anew after it has successfully seized an abandoned rebel camp, in Magallanes town, Tuesday, February 5.

Philippine Army 903^rd Infantry Brigade Spokesperson Cpt Mardjorie Paimela P. Panesa said troops of 1Lt Esico conducted raid to a suspected enemy training camp in Sitio Barayong, Brgy Tula-Tula Sur, Magallanes, Sorsogon and has successfully seized the rebel’s campsite.

Said training camp is strategically located, and believed to be abandoned by the CPP-NPA-NDF a night before the raid was conducted. “The camp can accommodate more or less 75 to 100 persons and it has good training ground, cover and concealment with a good source of water,” she added.

Report also said that a guard and listening post was seen within the area.

Following the raid, the troop invited two persons seen at the training camp’s vicinity identified as Ricky Almohila Moralde, 18 yrs old and Drimar Handig, 25 yrs old, both residents of the same place. One admitted that he is a student of the camping group.

Moralde and Handig were turned over to Brgy Chairman Eduardo Velazco of Tula-Tula Sur, Magallanes, Sorsogon.

“It was also confirmed that the camp site was used by the CPP-NPA-NDF in their military and political training which they call as “Batayan Kursong Militar” and “Batayan Kursong Pampulitika”, said Panesa.

Lt Col Teody Toribio, 31^st Infantry Battalion Commander, commended the effort of his men and said they owe the successful operation to a barangay resident who reported the presence of several suspicious people in their place prompting his troops to conduct operations in the area.

LTC Toribio said his men will continuously scour the area and do follow-on operations to track down and block the evading enemy. He encourages further the local residents in the area and its nearby place to report illegal activities conducted by suspicious faces in their respective locality.

Meanwhile, Colonel Joselito Kakilala, Commander, 903^rd Brigade assures that these abandoned enemy camp will be regularly visited by the troops. ”We and the entire military group will continue to conduct relentless combat operations against the rebels to stop their plans, training and recruitment of innocent youths to join their ranks,” he stress-out. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)