Soldier hurt in clash with suspected NPA rebels in Samar town

TACLOBAN CITY — A soldier was wounded in an encounter with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPAs) in San Jose de Buan town, Samar province on Monday morning.

Private First Class Jomari Singzon sustained a gunshot wound on his left thigh due to an exchange of gunfire between his group and an undetermined number of rebels in Barangay Can-aponte at around 6 a.m.

Reports reaching the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police based in Palo town, Leyte said the soldiers, belonging to the 87th Infantry Battalion, were conducting their regular patrols in the area when they encountered the rebels.

The wounded soldier was brought to the health office located at the town proper for medical treatment and is now in stable condition.

On Sunday (May 30), government troopers also engaged a group of rebels in Barangay Gecboan of Silvino Lobos town, Northern Samar.

The encounter resulted in the recovery of firearms and rounds of ammunition from the rebels who fled during the incident.

No one was injured on the government side.

The island of Samar, composed of the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar, continues to be saddled with insurgency problems.

Army officials vowed to crush the rebel groups by next year as it called for support and cooperation especially from the people.

JPV