ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Philippine Army reported the discovery of two regional camps of the New People's Army in Tapaz, Capiz.

Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office Chief Major Enrico Gil Ileto said the two camps are used as regional headquarters of the Komiteng Rehiyon Panay (KR-P), the NPA command which controls the NPA in a few places in the island of Panay.

Ileto said the camps were discovered last April 12 at the boundary of Barangays Nayawan and Lahug in Tapaz after the Army conducted a pursuit operation following a gunfight in the morning of April 11 against members of the NPA in Brgy. Nayawan, Tapaz.

The troops, said Ileto, was scheduled to conduct at local forum called "pulong-pulong" in the village.

He said that the team was supposed to bring to the area representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to address concerns related to ancestral domain and the rights of the indigenous peoples.

Ileto described the first camp as "constructed with improvised beddings and a firearms rack, can accommodate about 30 persons."

The second one has 50 huts made of laminated sacks with improvised beddings and two kitchens and has an estimated area of one hectare, he said, adding the same is believed to be the KR-P regional camp.

One empty magazine for M14 rifle, personal belongings and documents all hastily left behind were found in the area, he said.

Ileto said 3ID Commanding General Jose Mabanta Jr. believes that the recent encounter in the area made the NPA decide to abandon the camp.

Mabanta, he said, also believes that the recovered camps are being used by the NPA in the assembly of Improvised Explosive Devises.

Mabanta, meanwhile, assured the public that the PA in the Visayas will make sure that armed groups will be unable to use force to threaten the citizens, Ileto said.*