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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Slain rebels in Leyte clash linked to 2023 murder of soldier

Slain rebels in Leyte clash linked to 2023 murder of soldier

Published Nov 20, 2025 05:36 pm
TACLOBAN CITY – The three rebels killed in a recent clash with government troops in Jaro town, Leyte province were linked to the murder of a soldier in 2023, the Philippine Army’s (PA) 8th Infantry Division (ID) said on Thursday.
The PA said that based on verification, one of the three firearms seized after the clash belonged to Private First Class Aries Ampoan, 21, a member of the 14th Infantry Battalion who was tortured and murdered by the NPA on April 2, 2023 in the mountains of Abuyog town, Leyte.
“The recovery of his weapon provides crucial evidence linking the neutralized NPAs to previous atrocities against government forces,” the 8th ID said in a statement.
Ampoan’s body was found by coconut farmers in Barangay Balocawehay in Abuyog on April 9, 2023, a week after he joined an operation against NPA members sighted in the area.
Soldiers found Ampoan’s firearm after scouring the clash site in upland Barangay Pange in Jaro on Nov. 17, 2025.
Identified as fatalities during the firefight were squad leader Fidel Lagado, alias Rod and Jason; medical officer Maricel Anora, alias Yenyen and Gani; and political guide Jun Berino, alias Sonny and Danny.
As part of its obligation under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the 8th ID facilitated the turnover of the remains of the neutralized rebels to their families and arranged their burial in coordination with the local government unit of Jaro.
“Our commitment goes beyond securing communities; it extends to upholding IHL and pursuing justice for our fallen soldiers. This encounter brings undeniable clarity to the heinous nature of the enemy we face and provides crucial accountability for their crimes,” 8th ID commander Major Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio said.
The deaths of a squad leader and two other members of the NPA during the recent clash marked a major setback for the insurgent group’s operations on Leyte Island, according to the PA. (PNA)

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