LEGAZPI CITY - Three communist insurgents died as police and military troops clashed with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the boundary of Albay and Sorsogon provinces on Monday, the Philippine Army (PA) reported. Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, said in a report sent to reporters on Monday evening that the joint team of security forces encountered seven armed rebels. After some 10 minutes of firefight, the rebels fled in different directions, leaving three of their slain comrades. Government soldiers recovered the three bodies, including that of their group leader "Bong". No casualty was reported on the side of the troops. Authorities also recovered from the site two M16 assault rifles, one .45-caliber pistol, several propaganda materials, and personal belongings of the rebels. Belleza said the gun battle ensued when the troops responded to the "information given to the troops by concerned residents regarding the presence of armed m
LEGAZPI CITY - Police and military forces clashed with New People's Army (NPA) members in a remote village in Palanas, Masbate on Monday, leaving two rebels dead, the Philippine Army (PA) said. In an interview on Wednesday, Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (ID) public affairs office chief, said support troops from the PA and Philippine National Police have so far spent more than 48 hours tracking down the 20-man NPA group. The firefight lasted for 15 minutes, which resulted in the recovery of two bodies that were left by their comrades who fled in different directions. No casualty was reported on the side of the government troops. "As long as there are still indications of the presence of NPAs, the hot pursuit will continue. The joint military-police tracker group was scouring possible neighboring villages of the town where the rebels could have hidden," Belleza said. He also said the bodies of the two rebels were brought to the town police station for identi
LEGAZPI CITY - Four soldiers were wounded in a clash with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in a village here on Tuesday, the military reported Wednesday. Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, said the firefight occurred at around 1 p.m. in Barangay Bariis. Belleza, in a text message to the Philippine News Agency, said troops of the 31st Infantry Battalion (31IB) encountered more or less 10 NPA rebels. "Four soldiers were wounded with shrapnel from an exploded anti-personnel mine. They are currently in stable condition. One was already discharged from the hospital," Belleza said. He said the communist guerillas fled toward the eastern direction of Barangay Cagbacong after a few minutes of exchanging fire. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, another 10-minute clash occurred as troops pursued the rebels in Barangay Mariawa, also in this city of Albay province. "No casualties among the government troops while (it was) undetermined on the enemy side,"
LEGAZPI CITY - At least nine New People's Army (NPA) rebels and 12 members of the communist movement's Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) voluntarily surrendered early this week and were welcomed by the 49th Infantry Battalion (49IB) in Ligao City in Albay province, a military report said. Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, in an interview on Thursday said weapons were also surrendered during the presentation of the former rebels and turnover ceremony on Tuesday. "The former rebels also surrendered one M1 Garand rifle, one M2 Carbine rifle, one .45 pistol, and two .38 revolver pistols," Belleza said. He said that Lt. Col. Benjamin Tapnio, 49IB commander, personally met the former rebels who renounced their support for the communist terrorist group. "Ikinagagalak po ng tropa ng 49IB at ng mga mamamayan ng Albay ang inyong pagsuko at pagbabalik-loob, maging daan sana ito upang mas mahikayat pa natin ang inyong mga dating kasamahan,
RECOVERED. Government troops recovered on Saturday (Jan. 22, 2022) war materiel comprised of two M16 rifles, two .38-caliber pistols, two anti-personnel mines, and a plastic containing at least 15 kilograms of shrapnel in Barangay Maalo, Juban, Sorsogon. Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, in a statement on January 25 said soldiers and police personnel were conducting security operations in the said area which led to the discovery of the weapons. (Photo courtesy of 9ID) LEGAZPI CITY - Government troops recovered over the weekend a cache of war materiel comprising two M16 rifles, two .38-caliber pistols, two anti-personnel mines, and a plastic containing at least 15 kilograms of shrapnel in Barangay Maalo, Juban town in Sorsogon province. In a statement on Tuesday, Maj. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) spokesperson, said government troops of the Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were conducting security operations in th