CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – The Army's 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division (2ID) encountered the terrorist NPA on the outskirts of Brgy. Monteclaro, San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro, Saturday morning, November 23.
According to the report, from the 203rd Infantry Brigade (203Bde), the troops belonging to the 68th Infantry Battalion (68IB) received information from an undisclosed tipster that some armed elements were seen loitering in the vicinity.
A patrol was made to secure the people in the area when they were fired upon by the terrorists when they reached the reported location around 6 a.m.
The firefight lasted for 20 minutes before the terrorists fled.
One terrorist was reported died in the encounter while no casualty was reported on the side of the government.
The identity of the dead is still being verified as of press time.
The troops were able to recover two M16 rifles, four magazines for the M16 rifle, 111 rounds of ammunition, two improvised explosive devices, and a volume of valuable documents.
Maj. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr, the 2ID commander commended the troops for a job well done.
He also thanked the people for the continuous support of our troops and for helping the government achieve the desired peace in the province.
Maj. Gen. Balaoro also said that the encounter would hamper possible plans of the terrorist NPA to stage any atrocity against the people.
He keeps on reiterating his standing call for the terrorist NPA to give up their senseless fight, and instead return to society and live a normal life.
"As I keep telling them, grab the opportunity to live normally through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP)," adds Maj. Gen. Balaoro.
It can be recalled that the terrorist group suffered major setbacks with the arrest of their leaders, discovery of arms caches, and growing areas declared as stable internal pece and security due to the continued support of the people.