Reds abandon slain comrade after clash with soldiers in Samar
Published Apr 18, 2026 02:51 pm
(Courtesy of 8th Infantry Division)
An alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebel killed after a string of fierce encounters with the Philippine Army (PA) across Samar Island was abandoned by his comrades, the Philippine Army (PA) confirmed Saturday, April 18.
The 8th Infantry Division (8ID) said troops from the 46th Infantry Battalion (46IB) encountered members of the Yakal Platoon under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) in the hinterlands of Barangay Salvacion, Jiabong, Samar on Friday, April 17.
A day before that, members of the 19th Infantry Battalion (19IB) engaged members of Squad 1, Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit under the Sub-Regional Committee Emporium of EVRPC in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar.
When the smokes cleared and the firefight ended, soldiers discovered the body of a rebel identified as alias “John Paul,” an alleged member of the Regional Security Force of the EVRPC.
The slain rebel “was abandoned by his fleeing comrades,” according to Captain Christopher Tataro, 8ID public affairs office chief.
The clashes were part of an intensified crackdown on the EVRPC by the 8ID, Tataro said.
The slain rebel’s remains were brought to a funeral homes in Catbalogan City for proper disposition. Meanwhile, recovered on the encounter site was an M4 Bushmaster rifle.
“These incidents clearly demonstrate the futility of continuing the armed struggle against the government,” Tataro said.
The 8ID said it has observed a diminishing capability of the EVRPC and eroding support from the communities the rebels once influenced.
“CTG [communist-terrorist group] members are steadily being weakened, isolated, and forced to abandon their comrades and resources,” Tataro emphasized.
For decades, the Samar provinces have remained a stronghold for the NPA due to the island's dense forests and difficult geography. However, the military maintained that the tide has since turned due to its relentless operations.
The 8ID underscored that the government remains “resolute and fully capable of protecting its people and defending its institutions.”
"Continued armed resistance will only result in further loss of life, hardship, and unnecessary suffering, not only for CTG members but also for their families,” Tataro warned.
The 8ID urged remaining members of the communist group to “lay down their arms, abandon the armed struggle, and return to the folds of the law.”
Tataro said the government’s reintegration programs remain open for those seeking a peaceful life.