TACLOBAN CITY - A soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an encounter with the New People's Army (NPA) on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Barangay Malidong, Gamay, Northern Samar.
The fatality was identified as Corporal Benjie Tamor, a native of Dolores, Eastern Samar, and a member of the 52nd Infantry Battalion.
Barangay Malidong is about seven kilometers from the town proper.
Capt. Jefferson Mariano, 8th Infantry Division public affairs officer, said Tamor and the three wounded soldiers were part of the blocking force following an encounter around 12 noon against the Regional Guerilla Unit of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee of the NPA.
He added that the operation was launched because of the reported atrocities and extortion by the NPAs in the barangay.
Mariano said troops encountered about nine NPA members who they believe to have been wounded based on the blood stains in the encounter site.
The 8th ID strongly condemned the death of Tamor.
"We express our condolences to the family and friends of Corporal Benjie Tamor. He paid the ultimate sacrifice while aiming for peace in Eastern Visayas. Rest assured that his act pf heroism will not go into waste."
The wounded soldiers are being treated in the hospital while followup operations are ongoing.