TROOPERS of the Army’s 93rd Infantry “Bantay Kapayapaan” Battalion reportedly clashed on Monday with New People’s Army (NPA) holdouts in Barangay Canhandugan, Jaro, Leyte.
According to Army, the encounter lasted for more than five minutes, resulting in the seizure of one .45 caliber pistol, three improvised explosive devices various ammunitions, and other subversive materials.
“One soldier was wounded in action and immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. He is currently in stable condition,” the Army unit said.
The command said the firefight stemmed from reports by concerned citizens about the presence of armed men in their farmlands.
Acting on this information, troops of the 93rd IB deployed a team that subsequently engaged the nine-member NPA group in Canhandugan.
93rd IB commander Lt. Col. Charlie Saclot underscored the crucial role of civilian cooperation in the successful operation.
“The information we received from the residents of Barangay Canhandugan about the presence of suspicious individuals in their area prompted us to immediately deploy troops to the area, which resulted in the encounter,” Saclot said.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, chief of the 802nd “Peerless” Brigade, commended the troops for their swift response to the residents’ concerns.
“Once again, the NPA has failed in their terroristic activities due to the invaluable assistance of the populace who informed the soldiers about the presence of unknown individuals in their community,” Vestuir said.
“For the remaining few members of the Communist Terrorist Group, it is high time to return to the folds of the law and avail themselves of the government’s services, such as the Amnesty Program, which offers forgiveness and a chance to start anew. I also urge all Leyteños to continue denying any form of support to terrorist groups to advance our collective goal of freeing our communities from fear, intimidation, and exploitation.” Vestuir remarked.
