A SQUAD leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a firefight with government troops in Calbayog City in Samar on Friday, the military said yesterday.
Artemio Solayao, who carried the alias “Budil,” was the leader of Squad 2, Yakal Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
Solayao died in a 15-minute clash with government troops from the Army’s 46th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Cawayan in Catbalogan City last Friday.
The military said Solayao has multiple standing arrest warrants “for atrocities he committed against the government forces,” including an ambush on troops of the 14th Infantry Battalion in Catbalogan City in 2014.
Maj. Gen. Adonis Orio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said Solayao’s death could have been avoided if he “had surrendered and heeded the government’s call for peace.”
Orio reiterated the military’s commitment to end the NPA which has been involved in the armed struggle against government for over five decades now.
Brig. Gen. Lenart Lelina, commander of the Army’s 801st Brigade, asked the remaining rebels to surrender so they can be with their families during the Christmas season.
“It is not yet too late, be with your family, the government will help you,” said Lelina.
