Tacloban City—At least seven suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an early morning clash with government troops in the mountainous area of Barangay Santander, Bobon, Northern Samar on Sunday, April 30, 2023.
Army Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, said that the success of the operation “was made possible through the recent efforts to clear the barangays [where NPAs move around] which hindered the communist rebels [from getting] logistical and operational support.”
“Last year, we were able to clear the areas where member of the NPA Front Committee 2 operate. That prompted their dismantling, and with the help of our local chief executives, our residents in Northern Samar understood their responsibility in resolving the insurgency problem,” Ligayo said.
In the information released by Captain Jefferson Mariano, chief of 8ID Public Affairs Office, four firearms were also seized during the “joint focused military operation” of the Philippine Army in coordination with the Philippine National Police.
According to Mariano, the joint operation was launched following the information given by concerned civilians that a group of armed men were seen passing through in the outskirts of the said barangay.
The Army’s 803rd Brigade encountered more or less 40 rebel members who allegedly belonged to the Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit (SRGU) and remnants of the dismantled Front Committee-2 (FC-2), Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Emporium, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).
According to Mariano, the rebel group was led by Mario Sevillano, alias Durok.
Mariano added the NPA hideouts “were heavily fortified and surrounded by prohibited anti-personnel mines (APMs) that prompted the troops to call for close air and artillery support.”
The Army troops recovered seven unidentified cadavers and seized one R4 rifle, two M16 rifles, one AK47 rifle, one APM, and other subversive documents.
“The troops on the ground saw heavy bloodstain along their route of withdrawal which indicates that the rebels suffered heavy casualty,” the Army added.