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NPA killed in Samar gun battle

Philippines | Luzon

NPA killed in Samar gun battle

By Marie Tonette Marticio

TACLOBAN CITY – A member of the New People's Army (NPA) was killed while a wounded comrade was captured in an encounter in the hinterlands of Basey, Samar on Thursday, May 30.

Troops from the 63rd Infantry "Innovator" Battalion (IB) were responding to reports of communist guerillas conducting extortion activities in Sitio Bagti, Barangay Mabini, Basey, when they engaged approximately 10 NPA rebels from the Bugsok Platoon, Sub-regional Committee-Sesame (SRC-Sesame) of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

The NPA retreated to different directions following a 40-minute firefight and left behind a fatality, Domeng Pajares, also known as Bager.

The wounded NPA member was identified as Melchor Fabula.

Recovered from the encounter site were weapons and war materiels – an M-16 Armalite rifle, grenade launchers, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL)-banned anti-personnel mines.

Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, commended the swift response of the 63rd IB to civilian reports.

He urged remaining NPAs in Samar and Leyte Islands to consider peaceful surrender.

“The path to peace is open and welcoming to those willing to abandon armed conflict,” Vestuir said.

"I reiterate my call to the remaining NPAs in Samar and Leyte Islands to peacefully abandon the armed struggle. The communities no longer support and welcome you. Do not wait to experience the same fate as what happened to your comrades today," he said.

Related Tags

Basey Encounter Samar province New People's Army Deaths

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