THE Philippine Army vowed to step up its campaign against New People’s Army (NPA) holdouts in light of the death of one of its soldiers during a clash with communist insurgents in Samar.
“The military will never cease in pursuing the remaining insurgents for us to achieve lasting peace and progress in the community,” said Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the 8th Infantry Division.
He said the fallen trooper, Cpl. Bobby Barocaboc, “paid an ultimate sacrifice for the people of Eastern Visayas. His death fuels us to continue what we have started.”
Barocaboc died in an encounter with NPA rebels in Barangay San Roque, Matuguinao, Samar.
The troops encountered the insurgents while on a mission to secure the delivery of social and basic services to remote communities in San Roque, classified as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).
Orio extends his sympathies to the family of the slain soldier.
He also called on the NPA remnants to take advantage of the National Amnesty Program being offered by the government. They may coordinate with their relatives or local chief executives to arrange for their safe passage and formalize their application for amnesty.
The Army also retrieved an NPA arms cache buried in the hinterlands of Brgy. Buak Daku, Sogod, Southern Leyte.
The operation was part of Philippine Army’s 14th Infantry “Avenger” Battalion escalated operations to dismantle the region’s dwindling NPA forces.
The success of the operation and the discovery of the arms cache resulted from continuous dialogues and consultations meant to encourage the rebels to lay down arms and rejoin the mainstream of society.
The 802nd Infantry Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division has been leading efforts to weaken the remaining NPA elements in Leyte Island.
Troops from the 801st Infantry Brigade while conducting Focused Military Operations encountered members of Yakal Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Browser, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee in the hinterlands of Barangay Calapi, Motiong, Samar, the Army said.
The encounter resulted in the seizure of assorted war materials, medical supplies and personal belongings.