Communist weapons stash recovered in Abra

Troops discovered a New People’s Army camp and seized an arms cache following an encounter in Barangay Nagcanasan, Pilar, Abra, near the boundary of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, on Tuesday, April 2.

VARIOUS items were recovered by the military in a New People’s Army camp in Pilar, Abra.

According to the military, these recovered items indicate a larger enemy formation.

The 5th Infantry Division said the encounter site was mountainous with steep terrains.

One soldier was wounded in the encounter and he had to be evacuated by air to eliminate the threat of being ambushed.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) was deployed to conduct air support for ground troops.

“If not for the close air support and air evacuation, the casualty might have expired on site,” the 5th ID said.

The wounded soldier was taken to the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City.

Troops fought more than 30 members of the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla (KLG) North-Abra led by Maria Luisa Purcray from Northern Mindanao.

Troops engaged the NPA seven times from noon to 7 p.m. — Liezle Basa Iñigo