4 alleged NPA members die in clashes with soldiers in Catarman town

TACLOBAN CITY — At least four alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) died in two encounters with government troopers in Catarman town, Northern Samar on Sunday, May 28.

The first encounter between the seven-member rebel group and soldiers from the 43rd Infantry Battalion happened at about 2:10 p.m. in Barangay Mabini, Catarman.

The 15-minute firefight resulted in the death of two rebels who belong to the sub-regional unit, sub-regional committee emporium of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) headed by Mario Sevillano who is also known as alias Durok.

The rebels later withdrew in different directions with the soldiers immediately conducting a hot pursuit operation against them.

At about 3:47 p.m., the soldiers headed by Lt. Ian Tolentino also encountered the same rebel group which resulted in a five-minute firefight in the vicinity of Barangay Mabini.

After the rebels withdrew from the place, the soldiers scoured the area and found two dead bodies of suspected NPA members.

A caliber 45 with two magazines loaded with ammunition and two rifles with three magazines were recovered at the site.

Meanwhile, an alleged top leader of the NPA operating in Eastern Visayas was arrested in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan on May 26, the 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City, Samar, said in its report on Sunday, May 28.

The arrested rebel leader was identified as Rosita Solayao Taboy, who is known as alias Laling, an alleged member of the executive committee of the EVRPC.

The report also identified the rebel leader as a staff of the national finance commission of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA.

Arrested with her was her husband, known as alias Beto, who was identified to be part of the national operations command of the communist armed group.

The couple, which faces several multiple criminal cases, was said to be living in Bulacan and was traced through a military intelligence report.

Several firearms were seized from them who were described by the military as responsible for several killings and involved in ambuscades, including the burning of a communication tower in Catbalogan on Jan. 6, 2000.

Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division, said that the arrest of the couple is yet another indication that the insurgency problem in Eastern Visayas is weakening.

“This is a great development in attaining justice in honor with the victims of violence perpetrated by the CPP-NPA in Eastern Visayas,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

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JPV