2 SAF trainees dead, 4 others wounded in Northern Samar clash with NPA

 From the Sun Star-Tacloban (Nov 20, 2021): 2 SAF trainees dead, 4 others wounded in Northern Samar clash with NPA 

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TWO police students undergoing the Special Action Force (SAF) Commando Course were killed, while four others were wounded in a clash with suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Gamay, Northern Samar Saturday, November 20, 2021.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Dionardo Carlos condemned the rebels “for the latest acts of violence on government forces.”

“Pursuit operations will continue without let-up against these criminals while I ordered police forces in the area to establish more m checkpoints and prevent the possible escape of the fleeing terrorists,” Carlos said in a statement.

“We will make sure that justice will be served, and the deaths of our fellow law enforcers will not be in vain," he added.

Initial report said the encounter happened around 7 a.m. Saturday, November 20, in a hinterland barangay in Gamay.

Authorities have yet to disclose the names of the casualties pending notification of their respective families.

Meanwhile, Carlos said the PNP Air Unit and military forces have “provided combat support” following the incident.

Poverty-stricken Eastern Visayas, particularly the Samar island, has remained a hotbed of insurgency with the continued presence of the NPA, which has been waging a Maoist-inspired guerrilla war since the late 1960s.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1913701/Tacloban/Local-News/2-SAF-trainees-dead-4-others-wounded-in-Northern-Samar-clash-with-NPA