Army overruns abandoned rebel camp in Isabela

AFTER 2-HR FIREFIGHT WITH 3 REBELS DEAD

Army overruns abandoned rebel camp in Isabela

BY CHARLIE C. LAGASCA

CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, UPI, GAMU, Isabela - Army troops under the 5th Infantry Divison (ID) here overran an abandoned camp of the traditionally Maoist New People's Army after a two-hour gunbattle that led to the death of three rebels in a remote mountain village in this province the other day (30 July).

According to Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, his men from the 52nd Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC), were conducting combat operations early Sunday morning in sitio Lumalog, Barangay Cadsalan in San Mariano town when they came across the camp which had been tipped off to them earlier by informants. The said camp was allegedly being used by the rebels as a staging point for its various armed activities.

Sensing the presence of the Army troops nearby, the rebels then responded, resulting in a 2-hour firefight which led to the deaths of the still untidentified rebels and the wounding of several others of their comrades who were able to escape.

Also injured during the said gunbattle which started at around 6:30 am was Pfc. Jose Fernandez who was immediately evacuated from the encounter site by a Philippine Air Force UH-1H (Huey) helicopter and taken back to camp for immediate treatment.

Consisting of 20 bunkers capable of housing 60 rebels, a kitchen, a classroom-cum-mess hall, latrine and three guard posts, the camp yielded an M16 rifle with serial number defaced, five hand grenades, high-explosives detonating cords, electrical wire and materials, medical and dental paraphernalia, ten jungle packs and four sacks of other personal belongings and documents.

The three rebel fatalities were taken by the troops to the nearest mortuary in town to be given a decent funeral later.

General Maclang later commended his men for a job well done, likewise praising what he said was "the selfless concern and courage of the informants" who contributed much to the success of the operations.

The incident only proved that the rebels were indeed drastically losing their support from the masses, Maclang said, adding that military intelligence had shown rebel strength on a downturn from around 1,000 in 1999 to around 450 last year CCL