Alleged NPA killed, two soldiers wounded in Eastern Samar clash

August 18, 2020

An alleged member of New People's Army (NPA) was killed while two soldiers were wounded in a clash in Eastern Samar on Sunday, a military official said on Tuesday.

Capt  Ryan Balais, public affairs officer of the 8th Infantry Division, said troops of the 78th Infantry Battalion were conducting security patrol operation when they encountered around 20 armed men at the vicinity of Brgy. Aroganga, Dolores municipality at 1:30 am.

Balais said troops were responding to the reported presence of the rebels in the area when they saw the armed men placing  Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The five-minute firefight resulted in the death of a certain Dino Dabila, 25, a resident of Brgy Cagtabon, Dolores while two soldiers were wounded.

"His body was recovered at the encounter site by joint police and army troops assisted by barangay officials," Balais said.

"Government troops recovered an IED at the encounter site, while a hand grenade was recovered from the body of Dabila," he said.

Lt. Col. Oliver Alvior, commander of the 78th Infantry Battalion ,lauded the cooperation of the civilian in the area.

"The planting of IED by the NPA is dangerous and they (NPA) must stop it because there had been many incidents here where  innocent civilians were killed just like what happened in Borongan," he added. Robina Asido/DMS