01-08-2025
8 suspected rebels killed in Northern Samar clashes
Eight suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed during armed encounters in Barangay San Isidro, Las Navas, Northern Samar on Thursday, the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry 'Stormtroopers' Division (8ID) said Friday.
In a statement, the military said a concerned civilian provided information to the state forces about a group of armed men supposedly conducting extortion and threatening the farmers in the area.
The 8ID said its troops at 2:30 a.m. launched an assault on a supposed hideout of the suspected rebels allegedly surrounded by International Humanitarian Law (IHL)-banned Anti-Personnel Mines, which prompted the military to call for fire support.
Seven suspected rebels were killed in the initial clash.
Around 10:00 a.m., the military said another clash occurred as the reinforcing troops of the 803rd Infantry Brigade tracked down fleeing suspected rebels going west of the first encounter site.
One suspected rebel was killed in the second clash.
The military did not disclose any casualties from the camp of the state forces.
Recovered from the encounter sites were five M16 rifles and two R4 rifles with one M203 grenade launcher attached.
"We have repeatedly called on them to return to their families, but this group continues to cling to their twisted ideology that has claimed the lives of countless Filipinos,' Joint Task Force Storm and 8ID commander Major General Adonis Ariel G. Orio said.
'We therefore reaffirm our call to the remaining members of the CTGs, this may be your best chance to lay down your arms, abandon the armed struggle, and return to the fold of the law. We will not stop until Eastern Visayas is free from your acts of terror. We will hit you hard," he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
