Northern Samar map. INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — A soldier was shot and wounded by still unknown assailants believed to be members of a hit squad of the communist armed group in Las Navas town, Northern Samar on Friday evening, April 28.
Cpl. Dennis Surio, a member of the intelligence unit of the 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Las Navas town, was on his way to Catubig town, also in Northern Samar, on board a motorcycle when the perpetrators shot him.
Surio, who sustained a gunshot wound in his collar bone, was taken to a district hospital in Catubig town by the members of the brigade’s quick response team.
He was already in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily surrendered to Mayor Fawa Batula of Palapag town, also in Northern Samar, on Friday, April 28.
The former rebel, identified as “Ka Estong,” also surrendered his caliber 38 pistol.
He was a member of the Sandatahang Unit Pangpropaganda, Front Command 15, sub-regional committee Artic of the communist group operating in Northern Samar, where two guerilla fronts of the communist armed group are existing.
The decision of the former rebel to surrender was welcomed by Lt. Col.Joemar Buban, the commanding officer of the 20th IB.
He encouraged those still fighting with the government to give up and return to the folds of the law.
“To those who continue to fight against the government, the government is open and ready to welcome you so you may live a normal life together with your respective family members,” Buban said in a statement.