By Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – Two rebels, including a high-ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA), died in a gun battle with soldiers in upland Sulitan village in Catubig, Northern Samar, on Tuesday.
The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division identified the fatalities as alias Baste, a platoon and squad leader of front 15, NPA sub-regional committee arctic, and alias Jino, a member of Squad 2 in the regional guerrilla unit of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas regional party committee.
Government troops also recovered one M16 rifle, four.45-caliber magazines, subversive documents, and personal belongings at the encounter site, according to information sent to reporters by the military on Wednesday.
Government forces clashed with rebels Tuesday afternoon after they responded to reports from civilians about armed NPA members extorting and intimidating farmers in the area.
The clash lasted several minutes before the insurgents retreated, leaving behind two of their dead comrades.
Brig. Gen. Perfecto Peñaredondo, acting commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, is saddened by the deaths of rebels in a senseless struggle.
“The unnecessary loss of lives due to misguided ideology could have been avoided if they had chosen a peaceful path. We all dream of a peaceful and progressive community, so I urge the remaining rebels to heed the government’s call and become advocates for peace,” Peñaredondo said in a statement.
Northern Samar is considered the country’s last bastion of insurgency.
Recently, the military dismantled two NPA front committees, prompting its remnants to regroup into a sub-regional guerilla unit.
Although there are still active fighters in Northern Samar, they are no longer in control of any village in Samar Island, according to the Philippine Army. (PNA)
