Alleged NPA member killed in Eastern Samar

May 31, 2019

An alleged member of the New People's Army ( NPA) was killed in an encounter with government troops in Eastern Samar on Thursday.

Capt. Reynaldo Aragones, public affairs chief of the 8th Infantry Division, said troops belonging to 14th Infantry Battalion overran an enemy encampment of the Communist-NPA terrorists at Sitio Bagong, Barrio, Brgy. Pinanag-an, Borongan around 7:30 am.

"The discovery of the enemy encampment was attributed to the information provided by the civilian populace to the military," he said.

Aragones said the enemy encampment was seized following a firefight between government troops and around 50 rebels.

He said the clash that lasted for about 1 hour and 30 minutes has resulted to one enemy killed and the recovery of war materiel.

Recovered were one .357 magnum with four live ammo, one improvised explosive device, two magazines for AK-47, two rifle grenades, one M-203 ammunition, 15 backpacks, assorted medicines, three blasting caps, five cellular phones, one detonator (bomb switch), assorted ammunition (for AK-47, M16, Garand rifles), and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Aragones said Maj. Gen. Raul Farnacio, commander of 8th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Storm believes the rebels are on the run since the Army launched its security operations in the far-flung communities influenced by the NPA. Robina Asido/DMS