Three suspected communist rebels were killed in a series of armed encounters between the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) and New People’s Army (NPA) in Mapanas, Northern Samar on Sunday, March 16.
The initial clash occurred around 6 a.m. in Barangay San Jose when troops from the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion (4SRBn) encountered an undetermined number of armed men believed to be members of the Regional Guerrilla Unit (RGU) of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), according to Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of 8ID.
He said the troops recovered the body of one NPA fighter, an M14 rifle, an anti-personnel mine, two blasting caps and other personal belongings at the encounter site. The rebels fled after that.
However, after a short chase, the 4SRBn again engaged the same group in a gun-battle which led to the death of another rebel and recovery of an M16 rifle and assorted ammunition.
The remaining rebels again attempted to escape but they were met by blocking forces of the 4SRBn, to which a third firefight erupted that lasted for 10 minutes.
The final clash happened around 10 a.m. as pursuing forces from the 4SRBn encountered the fleeing enemies, which resulted in one more fatality on the NPA’s side. The troops also seized two more rifles, ammunition, backpacks, and other war materiel.
Orio said residents in the community were eager to help the government in eradicating the scourge of communist insurgency in Samar.
“The Philippine Army has repeatedly called on and appealed to the remaining members of the CTGs [communist-terrorist groups] to surrender. However, due to their continued violations and threats to our community, we cannot allow the entire region to suffer,” he stated.
The 8ID chief said troops were scouring the mountains of Northern Samar to find the escaped communist rebels.
He urged them to surrender to the authorities instead of exchanging bullets with the soldiers. He said that government troops are “willing to help those who want to surrender and live a new and peaceful life with their families.”