Pinabacdao: The recovery of medical apparatus and war materiel at an abandoned New People's Army (NPA) lair in the mountains of Pinabacdao, Samar, suggests that the remaining rebels are aging and facing health issues, an official of the Philippine Army (PA) stated.

According to Philippines News Agency, Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the PA's 802nd Infantry Brigade, mentioned in a phone interview that numerous NPA members are currently "suffering from serious illnesses." Vestuir emphasized the government's willingness to help these individuals transform their lives and urged them to take advantage of the opportunity.

Vestuir expressed gratitude toward the community for their active support of the military and appealed for their ongoing cooperation as efforts to end the local communist armed conflict intensify. He also renewed his call for rebels to surrender, following the discovery of medical supplies and other items by the Army's 63rd Infantry Battalion on July 18 in an abandoned rebel hideout in upland Canlobo village, Pinabacdao.

The recovered items included six intravenous (IV) cannulas, 17 packs of syringes, 10 catheters, two IV fluids, a digital blood pressure checker, and 14 surgical gloves. Additionally, troops found two portable generators, four high-explosive rifle grenades, a hand grenade, an improvised explosive device (IED), three remote IEDs, two SIM cards, 15 notebooks, seven hard drives, and other subversive documents.

Vestuir remarked that the NPA rebels have abandoned some war materiel due to their diminishing physical capabilities, as they lack members who are fit enough to carry them. The military reported that only 13 NPA remnants remain active, roaming the mountains in the southern part of Samar Island within the jurisdiction of the Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade.