Philippine army identifies three communist insurgents slain in firefights
Northern Samar province remains one of the remaining strongholds of communist insurgency.
CATUBIG, Northern Samar: The Philippine army has identified three of the five suspected communist insurgents killed in a series of armed encounters with government forces in Catubig town, Northern Samar province, last week.
The Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) said in a statement that the bodies of the alleged members of the communist terrorist group called the New People’s Army (NPA) were turned over to their families through the assistance of local government units, PNA has reported.
The fatalities were identified as Noel Lebico Sr. of Roxas village in Catubig, Arnel Aquino of Osmeña village in Palapag, and Nonoy Norcio of Luneta village in Gamay. Their identities were confirmed by a former NPA squad leader known by the alias “In-In,” who surrendered to authorities following multiple clashes in upland villages between June 2 and 5.
Soldiers recovered a cache of firearms and other materials at the clash sites including two M14 rifles, two M16 rifles, an M653 rifle, an Ultimax squad automatic weapon, a submachine gun, three improvised grenades, and assorted medical supplies.
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Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, the 8ID commander, credited community cooperation for the successful operations that led to the neutralisation of NPA members involved in extortion.
“The cooperation of the citizens clearly showed the deepening trust between the military and the communities we serve,” Orio was quoted as saying, urging remaining insurgents to surrender and take advantage of the government's National Amnesty Programme.
Northern Samar remains one of the remaining strongholds of communist insurgency in the Eastern Visayas region despite sustained military operations.
Communist insurgency in the Philippines is one of the world’s longest-running.