By Sarwell Meniano
In Tacloban City, one member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was fatally injured and another was wounded in a skirmish on Wednesday in the upland area of Osmeña village in Las Navas, Northern Samar.
Responding to information provided by a civilian regarding armed individuals, soldiers located the NPA members’ whereabouts, leading to a 20-minute exchange of gunfire.
Following the clash, the rebels retreated, leaving behind one deceased and one injured member, along with two M16 rifles and personal belongings, as reported by the military.
Lt. Col. Marvin Maraggun, commander of the Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion, in a statement, issued Thursday, said the armed men are believed to be members of the sub-regional guerilla unit, the sub-regional committee Emporium of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas regional party committee led by Mario Sevillano, alias Durok.
Soldiers identified the slain rebel as Adel Cabides, alias Hipolito, and the wounded NPA fighter as Jessie Robinacio, alias Tadok, who received first aid treatment from the Army.
“This is a result of our focused military operations following the information provided by a concerned civilian that a group of armed men was in the said village doing extortion activities to the residents,” Maraggun said.
The official lauded the support of the local government of Las Navas and the cooperation of villagers.
“The timely information provided by concerned citizens regarding the presence and extortion activities of armed rebels indicates that the community has fully realized that they also have a responsibility in solving the problem of insurgency,” Maraggun added.
The said group of rebels was responsible for perpetrating numerous atrocities in Northern Samar.
One of these atrocities was the attack on two unarmed CAFGU active auxiliary units in San Isidro, Northern Samar, in August 2021. (PNA)
