Gov’t soldier, NPA rebel slain in Northern Samar clash

Northern Samar map

TACLOBAN CITY — A government soldier and an alleged rebel were killed in an encounter on Monday, March 20, in a remote village of Northern Samar.

The slain soldier was identified as Private Modesto Lutob, while the alleged rebel’s identity remained unknown.

Colonel Efren Morados, the commanding officer of the 803rd Infantry Brigade based in Catarman town, Northern Samar, said the soldiers were in Barangay Geparayan de Turag, located more than five kilometers away from the center of Silvino Lobos town at about 12:37 p.m. after receiving information about the presence of an armed group.

A 20-minute firefight ensued, resulting in the death of the soldier and an alleged communist rebel.

The government troops, belonging to the Scout Ranger Battalion, recovered an M-16 rifle from the rebels, who fled after the firefight.

Major General Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, expressed his condolences to the family of the soldier who died during the encounter.

“His heroism and gallantry in action in serving the people of Northern Samar to support the attainment of lasting peace and development should never be forgotten,” he said in a statement.

Military officials identified Northern Samar as the “last bastion” of communist insurgency in Eastern Visayas, with four of the five communist guerrilla fronts still operating.

In December last year, elite Scout Rangers were deployed to Northern Samar to boost the government campaign against the communist rebels.

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