BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela (June 14)—Philippine Army troops (PA) here have discovered a New People’s Army (NPA) lair and was able to confiscate war materiel and medical paraphernalia at Sitio Salngen, Barangay Anayan, Tineg, Abra province.
Captain Rigor Pamittan, 5th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said the troops of the 24th Infantry Battalion (IB) led the discovery on Monday of the abandoned lair with a temporary house believed to be the bunk of the members of NPA’s Komiteng Larangang Guerilla (KLG) North Abra.
Upon scouring the lair, Pamittan said the troops recovered war materiel including a cal. 5.5mm M16 rifle, long and short magazines for M16 rifle, four magazines for M14 rifle, 11 broken chain links for cal. 60, a pistol holster, medical paraphernalia, assorted medicines and personal belongings.
He said the confiscated war materiel is now in the custody of the operating troops.
“Residents of Barangay Anayan tipped off the abandoned lair of the KLG North Abra and our troops immediately conducted combat patrol which resulted in the discovery and confiscation of the said war materiel,” Lt. Col. Ricardo GB Garcia 3rd, 24IB commander.
Garcia expressed thanks to the residents for giving them information that helped them in their fight against the KLG North Abra in the province.
“Their support means a lot as it boosts our morale, that together we can end the local communist armed conflict in the country,” he said.
On March 23, 2022, an encounter between the government troops and the members of KLG North Abra ensued in the same place.