Soldier dies, 2 wounded in another NPA ambush in Northern Samar

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
December 22, 2015

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Police Regional Office 8 condemns the recent ambush launched by suspected members of New People’s Army against government troops in Las Navas, Northern Samar on December 22, 2015 at 7:55 AM which kills one soldier and wounded 2 others.

Initial sport report disclosed that troops of 20th Infantry Battalion composed of five personnel led by Corporal Roman Clago on board KM450 was ambushed by undetermined number of NPA between Brgy. Bukid and Brgy. Bugay, Las Navas Northern Samar.

Police authorities identified the KIA as Private First Class Darylll Baldo and the two WIA as Corporals Michael Porten and Roman Clago while it was undetermined on enemy side. The suspected Communist Terrorists withdrew towards Brgy. Roxas, Las Navas, N. Samar.

The government troops believed to be bringing with them relief goods to be distributed to victims of typhoon Nona in the said municipality.

Last December 17, 2015 around 7:00 o' clock in the morning, albeit NPA’s declaration of ceasefire for this holiday season, atrocities against government soldiers was conducted by the local communist rebels along national highway in Barangays Pahug and Madalunot, Pinabacdao Samar wounding two soldiers of the 846th Engineering Battalion.

The government troops were also transporting relief goods from Oras, Eastern Samar to be distributed to all victims of Typhoon Nona in Northern Samar.

An estimated 15 armed members of Communist Terrorist fired, hitting the driver's feet and one of his escort.

The military trucks were on their way back to Tacloban to get another set of relief goods for the typhoon Nona victims. One Army Officer said that the ambush might be a retaliation of the government troops clearing operations from the past week which enables the Army to overrun an NPA camp near the ambush area.

Accordingly the truck were loaded of 16 soldiers from 546 Engineering Battalion and 81st Division Reconnaissance Company based in this city.

PCSupt. Cedrick G. Train, Officer-in-Charge, PRO8 expresses his dismay and said that the recent ambush was an act of desperation for their failure to extort money from the people.

The Officer-in-Charge condemns in the strongest manner the CNN’s continued acts of terrorism by conducting ambush on the Philippine Army who were transporting relief goods for humanitarian mission for typhoon victims. The CNN has evolved from an ideological revolutionary group to one conducting acts of banditry out of desperation since the people are hesitant to give in to their demands.

He said, “The PNP is on top of the situation. The long arm of the law will be used to hold them responsible for their criminal acts. The public is assured that the PNP, in collaboration with the AFP, will remain relentless in maintaining the peace and order in the country.”

The PNP needs every member of the community to fulfill their social responsibility by assisting law enforcement agencies in reporting the activities of these threat groups.

Police authorities in the region encourages the public to be more vigilant and to continue in helping the authorities in denying the CNN to wreak havoc in the region, by way of reporting any presence of an NPA in their locality. Together, their treacherous acts will end as they masquerade themselves as people but they actually take pride in fomenting violence.