BURAEN, LEYTE - Two camps of the New People’s Army (NPA) here were overran by members of the Philippine Army’s (PA) 78th Infantry Battalion in a span of three days. One soldier is reported wounded-in-action.

Following the direction in hot pursuit of around twenty (20) members of the NPA who scampered away after the encampment in Barangay Roxas that was successfully overran after a 20-minute gunfight on midmorning of August 15, 2017, the government troops were again engaged by a larger group – about 50 NPAs - in a bigger campsite situated in the boundaries of Barangays Candag-on and Roxas at around 2:45 PM of August 17.

With no casualties reported from the government troops during the first encounter, SSgt. Eleazar Ilola is reported wounded on his left foot during the second encounter that lasted for 45 minutes. The wounded soldier is now in the hospital undergoing medical procedures.

Based on the traces of blood found on both of the camps left by the rebels, Lt. Col. Danilo Dupiag, commander of the 78th Infantry Battalion informed about an undetermined number of casualties on the side of the rebels on both encounters and the confiscation during of a sack filled with rice and a backpack bag containing subversive documents and personal belongings of the rebels during the first day of gunfight.

With the successful seizures of two camps being the result of the cooperation and support of the villagers who reported being victimized by the NPAs of the continued extortion, recruitment and harm, Maj. Gen. Raul M. Farnacio, 8th Infantry Division Commander, extended commendations to the people of Burauen for their relentless support to the endeavors of the government for peace and development, thru the Philippine Army.