TACLOBAN CITY – Following the encounter between troops from the 803rd Infantry Brigade and members of the New People's Army which left seven armed rebels dead on Sunday, April 30, a wounded rebel surrendered to the 1st Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company in Barangay Trangue, Catarman, Northern Samar.
NPA medic Johny Silvestre recuperating in a hospital. (PNP photo)
He used to be a medical officer of the dismantled Front Committee-2 (FC-2), Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Emporium, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).
Reportedly, personnel from the 1st NSPMFC received a phone call from his mother, Margie Cardenas, chairman of Barangay Trangue, informing them that a wounded NPA member went to their barangay hall to surrender.
THE remains of seven communist guerrillas who died in an encounter were taken to a basketball court in Bobon, Northern Samar. (Contributed photo)
Silvestre disclosed that at about 2 a.m., he was at their camp located between Barangays Himaraganan and San Tander in Bobon, Northern Samar when they were raided by the Army.
The encounter was a result of a Joint Focused Military Operation following the information given by concerned civilians who saw a group of armed men passing through the outskirts of the barangay.
The troops, knowing the hideout was heavily fortified and surrounded by prohibited anti-personnel mines (APMs), asked for close air and artillery support before the raid was done.
At least seven still unidentified NPA members were killed and four high-powered firearms were seized after the fight.
Meanwhile, Silvestre was brought to the hospital after sustaining multiple injuries.