Body of suspected rebel found in Surigao forest

TROOPS belonging to the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) recovered on July 14, Saturday afternoon a body of a male person believed to be a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Lahi in Gigaguit, Surigao del Norte.

A report from Philippine Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion said residents in the area reported to its Community Support Program (CSP) team about a foul smell that came from the mountainous part of the community.

"From the information received, our team together with the barangay officials went to the area to check what caused the foul scent. About one kilometer from the community, the group found a decomposing body of an NPA rebel," Lt. Colonel Allen Tomas, commander of the 30th Infantry Battalion, said.

Tomas said found with the body were pair of rain boots, a bandolier, a spikes tactical SL15 striker 5.56mm rifle, four magazines and 81 rounds of ammunitions. He added that the body and items were brought to the barangay.

It can be recalled that

on July 10, 2018, there was a 15-minute firefight between the army and members of the NPA’s Sangay ng Partido Platun 16C, Guerilla Front 16 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command in the area.

Tomas said there was no casualty reported in his troops, but there were bloodstains seen in the area after the clash. He added that they believed there were casualties on the communist group’s side. ICT