.
The military reported new major gains in its fight against the New People's Army (NPA) as it announced the arrest of another ranking leader of the insurgent group and the capture of an NPA camp in separate operations in Luzon and the Visayas.
Col. Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said a top NPA leader, Nancy Ortega who uses the aliases "Nads" and "Sads", was arrested by joint military and police elements in an operation Sunday at around 8:30 p.m. in Barangay San Roque, Iriga City, Camarines Sur.
Citing a report from Col. Richard Q. Lagrana, Commander of the Army's 902nd Infantry Brigade, Bolina said Ortega is the provincial front secretary of the NPA operating in Camarines Norte.
Ortega was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for multiple frustrated murder.
"She has directed various attacks on military and police posts in Camarines Norte, as well as the killings of many innocent civilians," said Lagrana.
The arrest happened after reliable information reached authorities that Nancy Ortega will be visiting her relatives in Iriga. She did not resist arrest.
In Northern Samar, another NPA camp was captured by government forces at Barangay Luisita in Victoria town early yesterday morning
Lt. Col. Noel A. Vestuir, the 20IB's commanding officer, in his report to 803rd Brigade Commander, Col. Rolando Malinao, said the camp was seized by troops from Charlie Company, 20IB led by 1Lt. Florencio Tayo.
Vestuir said the camp was seized after it was abandoned by insurgents who evaded an armed engagement with the government forces.
"The camp has also a strong mobile signal and is near a water source. The camp was discovered after 20IB has launched sustained combat operations in the area of Victoria and San Isidro in response to the reported presence of communist terrorists in the area as tipped-in by the peace-loving resident," added Vestuir.
.
