CLASH. The map of Palapag, Northern Samar, the site of a clash between soldiers and New People's Army rebels on May 25, 2022. The firefight killed a rebel and led to the recovery of firearms and ammunition. (Google image)
TACLOBAN CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed during a clash with government forces on Wednesday in Palapag, Northern Samar, the Philippine Army (PA) said.
In a report sent to journalists Thursday night, the fatality was identified as Geronimo Javier, a member of the NPA’s Front Committee 15, the group responsible for intimidation, grave threats, and extortion activities in the Northern Samar communities.
Authorities also seized an M16 rifle, 70 rounds of M-16 rifle ammunition, three magazines, and a bandolier after the armed encounter.
PA 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) spokesperson 2nd Lt. Joyce Ann Bayron said the military acted on information from locals regarding the sightings of armed rebels in the remote Bagacay village.
Before the armed encounter, Bayron said the platoon led by 1st Lt. Joey Nono discovered an abandoned enemy lair with several makeshift bunkers.
“The active support of the residents in playing a major role in providing timely information is a clear manifestation that the people and the government are in unison towards ending the local communist armed conflict,” Bayron told reporters.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Joemar Buban, commander of the Army’s 20th IB based in Las Navas town, said they are relentless in making the communist terrorist group irrelevant in Northern Samar.
“We are calling on the remaining members to surrender peacefully and go back to their families. The government will accept them with open arms,” he added.
The high incidence of poverty in Northern Samar makes people in upland communities vulnerable to the persuasion of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA)
