NPA killed in clash with soldiers in Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – A member of the New People’s Army was killed in a clash between the government troops and the rebels Sunday morning, the Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas claimed on Monday.

Captain Isagani Viernes, spokesman of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said in a press release that an unidentified member of the NPA died in the fire fight that occurred around 6 a.m. on Sunday at Barangay Buluan, Calbiga, Samar.

Soldiers of the 87th Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt. Verniel D. Semblante were conducting security operations in Barangay Buluan when they chanced upon an NPA camp where some 15 rebels engaged them in a five-minute fire fight.

The fight resulted in the death of an alleged NPA and wounding of three soldiers – Corporal Jonas C. Autor, Private First Class Nico C. Basibas and Pfc Mark Anthony M. Ramasta.

“The killed NPA was left behind by his comrades who scampered in several directions,” said Viernes.

The military said the NPA encampment that they found in Barangay Buluan had 18 bunkers, one classroom and a multipurpose hall.

The government troops recovered 200 rounds of K3 squad automatic weapon ammunition, one binocular, one memory card and other subversive documents “with high intelligence value” from the rebel camp.

Lt Col. George Domingo, commander of the 87th Battalion, reported that they have turned over the cadaver of the slain NPA to the barangay officials in Buluan.

Viernes said a SOCO team from the Samar Provincial Crime Laboratory Office conducted a paraffin test on the cadaver. The barangay officials decided to bury the alleged NPA when no one was able to identify it.

This was the third encounter between the NPA and the government troops in Samar in the past seven days. On November 24, a soldier of the 63rd Infantry Battalion Corporal Raymundo H. Corales, was killed and three of his comrades were wounded when the rebels attacked their vehicle in Sitio Hibabaogan, Barangay Washington in Catarman.

On Friday (Nov. 27), two more soldiers aboard a military truck died after they were hit in a landmine allegedly planted by the NPAs in Barangay Lagundi Catbalogan City. Three soldiers were also wounded in the encounter.

Viernes said the government troops have been pursuing the rebels.  SFM