Army ops vs insurgency continues in Northern Samar

From the Sun Star-Tacloban (Mar 24, 2020): Army ops vs insurgency continues in Northern Samar

THE Philippine Army in Northern Samar has vowed to sustain its anti-insurgency operations in the province following the death of a high-ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Catarman.

“Your Army here in Northern Samar will not rest until this terrorist realized the futility of their false revolution that has been dragging the economic progress of the province. It is a reminder also that the hands of the law will reach them, no matter where they are hiding,” said Colonel Zosimo Oliveros, commander of 803rd Infantry Brigade.

Oliveros statement came after Salvador “Badok” Nordan, the alleged deputy of Sub-Regional Operation Command (SROC) of SRC Emporium, was killed by government forces in Catarman on March 6.

The army official also thanked the trust and confidence of the communities for the information to locate the safe houses of Nordan.

“This only shows that they were already tired of the terroristic activities these NPAs have caused not only to the military but also to the helpless civilians,” said Oliveros in a statement.

According to him, the village residents in Guba, Salvacion, Malvar, and San Julian of Catarman “explicitly expressed their frustration against the CPP-NPA-NDF as they issued the Barangay Resolutions denouncing the said terrorist group as persona-non-grata in the area.”

Meanwhile, Oliveros said that Nordan’s death “could have been avoided if only these communist-NPA terrorist members heed to the call of the government to peacefully return to the folds of the law and avail the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).”

Joint operatives from Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army in the province shot dead Nordan after allegedly he drew his short firearm and attempted to shoot the troops who were about to serve him the warrant of arrest at his safe house in Barangay Guba on March 6.

He was accused for attempted homicide, illegal possession of explosive, murder, and homicide.

Recovered from the suspect was one caliber .45 pistol without serial number.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1849895