NEWSFLASH

ARMY TAKES NPA CAMP IN LEYTE, 5 REBELS KILLED

Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, March 13, 2000 Philippine Army troopers captured a camp of the communist New People's Army in Bontoc, Southern Leyte Saturday night, killing five rebels and capturing a minor NPA recruit.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo received a report on the successful mission of the 43rd Infantry Battalion led by T/Sgt. Rafael Pasion, which attacked the NPA camp at Barangay Pamigsi-an, Bontoc and engaged the rebels in a 30-minute firefight.

Brig. Gen. Rufo de Veyra, commanding general of the 9th Infantry Division, said the raid was undertaken following complaints from local villagers that the NPA has been collecting revolutionary taxes from farmers and villagers.

De Veyra witheld the identity of the captured 12-year-old boy fighter, who was found by troopers crying at the height of the gunbattle.

Recovered from the camp were five M16 rifles, an M-203 grenade launcher, an ICOM radio set with defaced serial number, and several rounds of ammunition.

De Veyra said the Army is preparing appropriate legal charges against Communist Party of the Philippines chairman Jose Maria Sison for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law for recruiting children as NPA fighters.