THREE New People’s Army (NPA) rebels died on Sunday in a series of clashes with government troops in Northern Samar where the insurgents were reportedly extortion activities.
The Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID) said the still unidentified fatalities were from the NPA’s Regional Guerrilla Unit, under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
The initial clash broke out at around 6 a.m. in the hinterlands of Barangay San Jose in Mapanas town, said 8th ID spokesman Maj. Jefferson Mariano.
Troops from the Army’s 4th Scout Ranger Battalion were deployed to the area after civilians reported the presence of a group of rebels conducting extortion activities in the barangay.
The first clash resulted in the death of one of the rebels and seizure of an M16 rifle, an anti-personnel mine, two blasting caps, and personal belongings of the rebels, said Mariano.
Minutes later, pursuing soldiers engaged the communist rebels in another firefight. This led to the death of another rebel and the recovery of an M16 rifle and assorted ammunition. The Army soldiers encountered the rebels anew hours later, leading to the recovery of two backpacks of the rebels.
The last encounter occurred at around 10 a.m., resulting in the death of the third rebel and seizure of two M14 rifles, ammunition, and other water materiel.
Maj. Gen. Adonis Orio, 8th ID commander, said the military remains firm in its commitment to protect the people of Eastern Visayas from the insurgents.
“We will continue to scour every mountain of the region until we get rid of the last CTG (communist terrorist group) member,” Orio said.
While the military remains aggressive in its counter-insurgency operations, Orio said the government is open to welcoming the rebels who will surrender.
