TACLOBAN CITY – Three members of the New People's Army (NPA), including an amazon, involved in the landmine explosion that injured seven soldiers in San Jorge, Northern Samar were killed in an encounter in Mapanas, Northern Samar last July 8.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Joint Task Force Storm sent its S70i Black Hawk helicopters to Samar to pick up the cadavers of the three NPA on July 12.

The military used drones to track down the terrorists leading them to several NPA hideouts until an encounter ensued in an uninhabited area in San Jorge last July 8 in which the three NPAs were killed.

Another encounter transpired in a forested area near Barangay Libertad, San Jorge, on July 13 around noontime. 

Troops of the 801st Infantry Brigade recovered three M16 rifles, one AK47, and a shotgun from the scene of the encounter.

Also seized were anti-personnel mines (APMs), election campaign materials from party list groups, and notes beside the dead NPAs. 

Among the election campaign materials found was that of former Vice President Leni Robredo and running mate former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.

JTF Storm spokesperson Capt. Ryan Layug said that troops encountered NPA belonging to the Platoon Yakal of Sub-Regional Committee Browser. Soldiers have been tracking them from Northern Samar south to Samar. 

Due to difficulties in the terrain and the poor weather, the cadavers were already in the stage of decomposition when airlifted and brought to the police for examination by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO). 

The cadavers were  buried as advised by the San Jorge Municipal Health Office. 

Major Gen. Edgardo de Leon,  commander of JTF Storm, had earlier announced that relentless pursuit operations were launched by sending additional troops and air assets to Northern Samar to track down the NPA bombers.