Soldier killed in clash with NPA in Samar

From InterAksyon (Feb 26): Soldier killed in clash with NPA in Samar

The military is hunting a band of New People’s Army guerrillas who killed a government soldier in an encounter in Jiabong town, some 11 kilometers from the headquarters of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division in Catbalogan City.

Lieutenant Colonel Antonio B. Dulnuan Jr., commanding officer of the 87th Infantry Battalion, reported that his men were patrolling in Barangays Lulugayan and Camarubu-an Sunday when the rebels fired on them, triggering a 15-minute gun battle.

Although the military claimed there were traces of blood on the rebels’ withdrawal route, they could not confirm any NPA casualties.

Despite the loss of the soldier, Dulnuan said the troops “were able to prevent the (rebels) from threatening and extorting money from the villagers.”

In a related development, four NPA guerrillas surrendered in Northern Samar.

Captain Amado Gutierrez, 8th ID public affairs office chief, said the rebels surrendered to the 34th Infantry Battalion.

However, he declined to name the surrendered guerrillas but said one of them, who surrendered first on February 7, handed in a .22 caliber pistol.

The other three, the commander of an NPA militia unit based in Barangay Malidon, Gamay, and two of his men gave up to a military “Bayanihan Team.”

The government offers cash incentives to rebels who surrender with their firearms under the “Guns for Peace” program: P200,000 for a light machine gun, P60,000 for an M14 assault rifle, P50,000 for an M16 Armalite rifle, and P40,000 for an M203.

Rebels who surrender are also provided livelihood assistance and other benefits under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/81573/soldier-killed-in-clash-with-npa-in-samar