By Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – Six New People’s Army (NPA) combatants were killed in a fierce gun battle with government forces in upland Paco village in Las Navas, Northern Samar on Monday.
Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Jefferson Mariano said in a phone interview Tuesday that the firefight destroyed an NPA lair in Northern Samar heavily fortified by anti-personnel mines.
After the clash with about 30 rebels, government troops recovered six dead bodies of unidentified rebels, two M16 rifles, two pistols, three grenades, and assorted personal belongings.
The military is still gathering more updates from the encounter site as troops are still in the area for clearing operations, according to Mariano.
He said government troops met strong resistance en route to the heavily fortified hideout, which prompted the request for close air support and artillery fires.
“Maybe the NPA remnants are consolidating since they plan for their 56th founding anniversary on Dec. 26. The encounter thwarted the NPA’s planned atrocities for their anniversary,” Mariano said.
The military launched the operation following information from a concerned civilian that a group of armed men was seen passing through a hinterland area of the village.
The rebels belong to the sub-regional committee of the Eastern Visayas regional party committee under the command of Ariel Baselga, alias Aries.
The rebels who engaged in a clash are notorious for numerous atrocities in Northern Samar, such as extortions, killings of innocent people, and terrorizing the communities. (
