Thursday, August 1, 2013

NPA wounded in E. Samar clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 1): NPA wounded in E. Samar clash
 
Government troops clashed with a small group of New People’s Army (NPA) in an outskirt of Arteche, Eastern Samar Wednesday afternoon, injuring unknown number of armed rebels and recovery of rifle and documents.

Captain Amado C. Gutierrez, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division said local residents reported the presence of armed rebels in the upland village of Tangbo in Arteche, which led to a 10-minute firefight.

“The NPA retreated leaving an armalite rifle, documents and personal belongings. We are sure that some of them were injured due to traces of blood,” Guttierez said.

Nobody was hurt among soldiers of 14th Infantry Battalion based in Giporlos, Eastern Samar, who was pursuing them after an encounter in outskirts of San Pascual village in Dolores, Eastern Samar.

“The group of about 10 armed rebels has been weary from five days of fleeing,” Gutierrez added.

The official said that despite encounters last week and on Wednesday, NPA threat in Eastern Samar has been reduced.

The Philippine Army and local government unit jointly declared the province as manageable conflict-affected areas ready for development last March 26.

On Saturday, NPAs also suffered great losses when troops under 34th Infantry Battalion engaged them in a 45-minute encounter in Brgy. Rombang, Laoang, Northern Samar.

A communist rebel was killed and two soldiers were wounded. Government troops recovered two M16 armalite rifles.

“The successive encounters in the past few days were results of reports coming from the people themselves who are tired of NPA intrusion in their communities, where they conduct extortion as well as threaten and harm those who do not yield to their whims and caprices,” Gutierrez said.

Major General Gerardo T. Layug, commander of the 8th Infantry Division lauded the contribution Samarnons to the success of government drive against the NPAs. The official vowed to to strengthen its counter-insurgency program by helping the national government deliver basic services to vulnerable communities.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=550498

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