NPA punishes intelligence handler, 11 other enemy casualties killed in various guerrilla actions in EV

By Efren Martires Command, NPA-EV
August 5, 2014

The Efren Martires Command (EMC) of the New People's Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas (EV) today claimed responsibility for the punishment of an intelligence handler of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as inflicting 11 other casualties killed on the enemy side in various guerrilla actions in the region.

"The special operations group of the EMC carried out the death sentence of the people's court on Jojo "Jerson" Rafales last August 1 at 5 p.m. in Calbiga, Samar," said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. "Rafales was a paramilitary CAFGU element and was sentenced to death for setting up intelligence networks in Calbiga, Pinabacdao and Basey towns. He was involved in the killing of activist leader Rodolfo Dagumay Basada in Pinabacdao last June 29, and the attempted killing of another activist, Ariel Dacallos, in Calbiga last July 31. Seized from Rafales was a .45 pistol and two spare magazines."

In other developments, Manuel said that the NPA also dealt 11 casualties killed in action on the 8th Infantry Division. "Last Aug. 2, Red fighters of the EMC harassed 21 elements of the 87th Infantry Battalion then on operations in Brgy. Magdawat, Pinabacdao, Samar. The gunbattle raged from 10 a.m. to past 12 noon. Five enemy soldiers were killed in action while the NPA had no casualty. Meanwhile, last July 11, an NPA sniper team shot and killed one soldier of the 87th IB's 19-element "peace and development team" then operating in the same barangay. The NPA harassments were in punishment for the military's various human rights violations in Calbiga and Pinabacdao on top of the people's continuing sufferings in these towns after Super typhoon Yolanda."

"Five soldiers were also killed and six wounded last June 17 after a platoon of Red fighters of the Mt. Amandewin Command defended itself when the 19th IB attempted to raid their encampment in the area between Brgy. Hugpa and Brgy. Mahilaum, Ormoc City. There were no NPA casualties in the 50-minute gunbattle. But the following day, the 19th IB battalion commander went to the abandoned NPA camp for photo ops and boasted to the media that the NPA had many casualties, just to cover up their shameful defeat."