A BRIEF firefight involving units from two Philippine Army brigades and the remnants of the communist terrorist group operating in the border areas of Bicol and Quezon province resulted to the recovery of five assault rifles and other war materiel, the military said.
BGen. Jose Ambrosio Rustia, commander of the 201st ‘Kabalikat’ Brigade, said operating troops from the 16th Infantry Battalion, 201st Brigade and 31st IB, 902nd Brigade were immediately dispatched to the vicinity of Barangay Salvacion, Ragay, Camarines Sur based on the information provided by residents regarding the presence of an undetermined number of fighters from the New People’s Army (NPA).
The clash took place last October 10 and lasted some 5 minutes, the official added.
Operating troops recovered five assault rifles, magazines, ammunition, personal belongings from the fleeing terrorists and one IED (improvised explosive device).
The boundary of Quezon and Camarines Sur is significant as it was the ‘Headquarter’ of the late Communist Party (CPP) spokesman, Gregorio ‘Ka Roger’ Rosal and the main operating base of the NPAs heading toward other areas in Southern Tagalog and the Bicol region during its early years of expansion.