TACLOBAN CITY – Two New People’s Army rebels were killed in an encounter with the 46th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Caulayanan, Motiong, Samar on Friday.
Recovered from the seven-minute firefight against remnants of the Yakal Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee Browser, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), were an M14 rifle and a caliber .45 pistol.
The 8th Infantry Division said that the encounter is another major setback for the already weakened NPA operating in Eastern Visayas.
“The neutralization of these armed individuals and the recovery of their firearms further weaken the operational capacity of the CTG in Samar. This demonstrates the ongoing pressure applied by our troops on the ground.”
The military stated that the ongoing series of armed clashes indicates the NPA’s decreasing strength, forcing its members to engage in brief, sporadic confrontations while struggling to maintain unity.
“Despite their efforts to escape from government forces, our troops remain relentless in pursuing these armed groups. Their abandonment of their fallen comrades once again shows their disregard for human life within their ranks,” the 8th ID said.