Saturday, August 24, 2019

2 soldiers, 2 NPAs killed in Samar encounter

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 24, 2019): 2 soldiers, 2 NPAs killed in Samar encounter

A military junior officer and a soldier were killed in a strike operation against New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Olera, Calbayog City, Samar, Friday morning. Two insurgents were also slain in the encounter.

Civil Military Officer First Lt. Allan Jay Buerano of the 43rd Infantry Battalion (43rd IB) disclosed that Second Lt. Geroe Jade Nicor and Cpl. Joelito Canico were killed-in-action, while Cpl. Eric Portalio was wounded when the 43rd IB and 83rd Military Intelligence Company (83rd MIC) went on a strike operation against a group of NPAs who were extorting money and food from the people.

Buerano said seven heavily armed members of the terrorist group, led by Salvador Nordan, also known as Badok or Gahi, under Sub-Regional Committee Emporium, were allegedly caught in the act of collecting extortion money and food from the people.

Barangay Olera is an interior village near Lope de Vega town that is categorized as not influenced by the Communist rebels, according to their Periodic Status Report. However, the 83rd MIC received information regarding the presence of suspected guerilla rebels in the area.

Buerano said the firefight started at around 7:15 a.m., lasting for almost two hours before the enemy withdrew towards different directions.

The wounded soldiers were brought to Catarman, Northern Samar for medical treatment, but Nicor and Canico were later pronounced dead. There were also reported wounded fighters on the enemy side.

The troops were also able to recover two M14 rifles from the scene believed to have been left by two slain NPAs who were carried away by their comrades.

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