16 NPA rebels killed in Eastern Samar clash – military

From Rappler (Aug 16, 2021): 16 NPA rebels killed in Eastern Samar clash – military (By JAIRO BOLLEDO)

The encounter that broke out at 4 am Monday ends at 5 pm, says the military

At least 16 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed by soldiers in a daylong encounter in Dolores, Eastern Samar, on Monday, August 16, the military said.

Colonel Ramon Zagala, military spokesperson, said the rebels were killed by members of the Joint Task Force Storm under the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID) based in Catbalogan City.

Zagala said the soldiers seized at least 29 high-powered firearms from the guerrillas. The military did not suffer casualties, according to 8th ID commander Major General Pio Dionisio III.

The encounter broke out around 4 am on Monday in Barangay Osmeña, Dolores, and ended at around 5 pm, according to Major Reynaldo Aragones, spokesperson of the 8th ID.

Aragones added that prior to Monday’s encounter, they already received information that the area was a bomb making hideout of the rebels.

“Pareho-pareho din sinasabi na may bomb making hideout itong NPA dito, na nandito sila. So ‘yun, pinuntahan ng tropa, nagkaroon po ng engkwentro. Intense nga ‘yung bakbakan, ‘yung firefight, kaya nagkaroon ng tayo ng support ng indirect fires at saka air assets din po natin,” the 8th ID spokesperson said in a pool interview with reporters. (We received information consistently, which said that the NPA had a bomb making hideout here, that they were there. So the troops went there, and an encounter broke out. The firefight was intense so we needed support from indirect fires and air assets.)

PH council designates CPP-NPA as terrorists

According to Army, there are at least 29 villages in Eastern Samar where the guerrillas are present. At least 45 villages in the same province have so far been declared “NPA-free,” according to the army.

The military is under pressure to wipe out the insurgents before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down in June 2022. He vowed to end Asia's longest running insurgency by the end of his term.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/military-says-rebels-killed-clash-eastern-samar-august-2021