Six alleged NPA members killed in Northern Samar town

Northern Samar map

TACLOBAN CITY — At least six alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an hour-long armed battle in Las Navas town, Northern Samar on Wednesday morning.

The encounter took place in Barangay Imelda at about 5:30 a.m. with government troopers belonging to the 20th Infantry Battalion of the 803rd Infantry Brigade engaging about 60 rebels, said Capt. Valben Almirante, the battalion civil-military operations officer.

The government troopers were in the area conducting a hot pursuit operation against a group of rebels who earlier attacked government troopers in Jipapad town, Eastern Samar, which resulted in the death of two soldiers last October 7.

This time, the government troops sought air support aside from continuing their fire attack against the rebels.

The one-hour firefight resulted in the death of six rebels, one of whom was identified to be a woman, Almirante said.

The cadavers of the slain rebels are now at Las Navas town proper for possible identification of their families or relatives.

No fatalities were reported on the government side and the civilians.

Government troopers recovered from the rebels a 7.62mm caliber 60 machine gun; 11 5.56 mm M16 rifles; a 5.56 mm M4 rifle; a AK47 rifle; and an M14 rifle.

“This is a big victory in our fight against the communist terrorist group where the regional communist group (is operating). The entire Northern Samar is their last bastion,”Almirante said.

NPA is the armed wing of the communist group of the Philippines.

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