TACLOBAN CITY - A soldier was killed in an encounter between troops of the 3rd Infantry (Regardless Of What) Battalion and members of the New People's Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of Barangay Luisita, Victoria, Northern Samar on Monday, Sept. 26.
The fatality was identified as Corporal Loreto Cachola Jr., a member of the Mobile Community Support Sustainment Team (MCSST) in Barangay Luisita.
MCSST is part of the government campaign which includes those previously cleared Community Support Program barangays to ensure that they will not be recovered by the Communist Terrorist Group.
Reports disclosed that he was hit in the neck which caused his instantaneous death.
The government troopers were patrolling the area as part of their campaign to protect communities previously under communists’ movement when they got engaged in a gun battle with the NPAs.
The group of CTGs led by alias 'Normie' who is frequently monitored extorting money and food supplies from the people in the area was believed to be behind the attack.
On the other hand, the MCSST monitors and secures the unhampered delivery of basic services, programs, and projects in the barangays.
"This terrorist attack shows how desperate the CTGs are in preventing the development in the barangay," said Col. Perfecto Peñaredondo, commander of the 803rd Brigade.
He directed the immediate deployment of additional troops to pursue the fleeing CTG members.
He also expressed his condolences to the parents of the late Cpl Cachola for his heroism and gallantry in action in support of the attainment of lasting peace and development in the province of Northern Samar.