8ID troops clash
with NPA rebels anew, seized another high-powered firearm
By DPAO, 8ID PA
May 29, 2014
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan
City, Samar – Troops under the 34th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers)
Division clashed with New People’s Army rebels at around 10:32 a.m. on
May 28, 2014 at Brgy. Osang, Catubig, Northern, Samar.
Based on the report of Lt.
Col Rodrigo Illustrisimo, Commanding Officer of 34IB, his troops were
conducting routine security operations at Brgy. Osang, Catubig,
Northern Samar when they were fired upon by around fifteen (15) NPA
rebels. Troops immediately fired back, prompting the rebels to flee
after a 15-minute firefight. The encounter resulted to one (1) NPA
rebel killed. The troops also recovered one (1) M14 rifle and two (2)
M14 rifle magazines loaded with ammunition. Government troops did not
incur any casualty during the said encounter.
Meanwhile, pursuing troops
under 43IB also clashed with NPA rebels for 25 minutes on the same day
at around 11:10 a.m. at Brgy. Mahayag, Matuguinao, Samar. There were
no reported casualties on both sides during the encounter. It can be
recalled that on May 26, 2014, the same unit encountered the same
group of NPA rebels at same barangay where two (2) rebels were killed
and three (3) high powered firearms were recovered. The second
encounter was just 400 meters from the previous encounter.
According to Maj General Jet
B. Velarmino, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division the series of
encounters between the 8ID troops and NPAs is a sign that the mass
base of the rebels is now dwindling. “It is now the people that
pinpoint rebel hideouts which made it easier for our troops to track
them down. We are now in a situation where rebels can run, but cannot
hide.”
Further, he stressed that
there is a considerable increase of surrender feelers from the NPA
ranks. “We expect influx of surrenderees in the coming days and we
assure assistance for those who wish to avail of the incentives and
benefits intended for rebels from local and national government.”
"These are the reasons why,
I am very optimistic that we can hand-over the internal security
operation to the LGUs of Samar and Northern Samar by June and December
2014 respectively. I am elated with this development since this is
what we have been working for and this is what we have planned and
hoped to achieve," he added.