Soldier wounded in clash with suspected NPA rebels in Leyte

INQUIRER FILES

TACLOBAN CITY – A soldier was wounded after his group figured in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Canhandugan in Jaro, Leyte on Monday, Dec. 30.

Sgt. Ronald Gomez was immediately transported to a nearby hospital and is now in a stable condition.

The encounter, which lasted for more than five minutes resulted in the seizure of one .45 caliber pistol, three improvised explosive devices and ammunition.

The firefight stemmed from reports received from concerned citizens about the presence of unidentified armed individuals in their farmlands.

Acting on this information, troops of the 93rd Infantry Battalion (IB) located and confronted the suspected rebels.

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Saclot, commanding officer of the 93rd IB, emphasized the crucial role of civilian cooperation in the successful operation.

“The information we received from the residents of Barangay Canhandugan about the presence of suspicious individuals in their area prompted us to immediately deploy troops to the area which resulted in the encounter,” said Saclot in a statement.

Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, commended the troops of the 93rd IB for their swift response to the residents’ concerns.

“Once again, the NPA has failed in their terrorist activities due to the invaluable assistance of the populace who informed the soldiers about the presence of unknown individuals in their community,” he said in a separate statement.

He reiterated their calls for the remaining NPA members to return to the fold of the law and live a normal life.

“For the remaining few members of the communist terrorist group, it is high time to return to the folds of the law and avail themselves of the government’s services, such as the Amnesty Program, which offers forgiveness and a chance to start anew,” Vestuir added.