TACLOBAN CITY – At least 15 firearms were seized in an encounter between the 74th Infantry Battalion (IB) and the New People’s Army in Barangay Magsaysay, Mapanas, Northern Samar, on Wednesday, May 10.
These were two M14 rifles, two AK47 rifles, two M16 rifles, two M4 rifles, an Ingram, an Uzi submachine gun, a homemade shotgun, three caliber .45 pistols, a .38 revolver, a bandolier, 12 backpacks, and subversive documents.
The 20-minute firefight between the Army and Platoon 1, Front Committee 15 (FC15), of the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Arctic of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), occurred following the information disclosed by a former rebel who recently surrendered.
Col. Efren Morados, 803rd Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the collaboration of the 74th IB and former rebels that resulted in the major setback in NPA operations in Northern Samar.
"We will relentlessly pursue them, for we are determined to put an end to their atrocities here in Northern Samar. Despite this, we are still offering you peace to start a new life with your loved ones. Lay down your arms and return to the folds of the law,” Morados urged the NPA.
Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, 8th Infantry Division commander, commended the troops for their unwavering efforts and commitment to sustain the operations in addressing the NPA and ensuring safety and security in Eastern Visayas.
Barangay Magsaysay was immersed by the Community Support Program (CSP) of the 803rd Brigade and was declared cleared on Nov. 10, 2022. The village was also where an underground mass organization was unearthed and politico-military structures were dismantled.