Gov’t troopers hunt fleeing NPA rebels in Mondragon, N. Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Government troopers are pursuing suspected rebels they encountered in Mondragon town here early morning Monday, June 8.

Col. Reynaldo Dela Cruz, Northern Samar police provincial director, said the military used airstrikes to go after the rebels.

Captain Ronald Aljas, civil military operations officer of the 803rd Brigade based in Catarman, said the operation against the alleged members of the Subregional Committee Emporium of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army continues as of 1:30 p.m.

“It’s a big firefight. The military troops had to call for ‘close air support’ from the Philippine Air Force,” he said.

The military troops, he said, are still scouring the area in pursuit of the fleeing rebels.