Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: AFP: PRESS RELEASE//Former BAYAN-Eastern Visayas Regional Head turned NPA killed in an encounter in Northern Samar

Saturday, June 3, 2023

AFP: PRESS RELEASE//Former BAYAN-Eastern Visayas Regional Head turned NPA killed in an encounter in Northern Samar

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Facebook Page (Jun 2, 2023): PRESS RELEASE//Former BAYAN-Eastern Visayas Regional Head turned NPA killed in an encounter in Northern Samar

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – Clashed of 43rd Infantry Battalion and members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the hinterlands of Barangay Mabini, Catarman, Northern Samar last May 28, 2023, which resulted to the killing four CTG members and seizure of two M16 rifles, two cal.45 pistols, magazines with ammunition and personal belongings, authorities have now identified the four killed CTG members.

The cadavers at the encounter site were subsequently airlifted for identification and turn-over to 803rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters at Camp Sumoroy, Catarman, Northern Samar.

Alias Kurati, a former rebel (FR) who operated in the area positively identified the cadaver of the armed combatant Joshua Musico Sagdullas alias Miyong/Martin, who served as the Political Instructor of the CTG for almost a year and the Secretary General of Bayan Eastern Visayas and former chairperson of the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban Campus (UPVTC) College Student Council as one of the casualties.

He also identified the three other armed combatants who died in the clash as Geraldine Teopinto alias Luz, the Finance Officer; Abigail Padula Baselga alias Moana, Medic; and Vicente Termo.

Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo, Commander, 8ID regrets the demise of the CTGs because of a pointless ideology. He said that they could have had a better future ahead and be an active partner of the government in nation-building, helping the people in the community if he had not been recruited with the terrorist group.

“Another life has been lost in the war against the senseless ideology of the Communist Terrorists Group (CTG). Let us put an end to this way of life of constant struggle and fear. The door is still open for those who want to surrender and live a better and more peaceful life,” Maj Gen Ligayo stressed.

Meanwhile, the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Chair, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez conveyed his sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased especially to the family of his fellow Taclobanon, Miyong.

The RPOC Chair strongly urged the remaining CTGs to choose the right path while they still can.
“I feel sad for the families, kaya kayong ibang nandiyan pa sa movement, isipin niyo ang mga naiiwanan ninyo. Feeling ninyo itong ginagawa ninyo ay talagang may ipinaglalaban kayo. Pero sa bandang huli ang mas nakakaawa dito ang mga iniiwanan ninyo. ‘Yong parents pinagpawisan para mabigyan ka ng edukasyon, maraming talent and all tapos, what happened? It is really sad, I hope this will stop, and this will end very soon,” Romualdez lamented.