TACLOBAN CITY — The recent encounter between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in San Jorge, Samar has derailed the planned attacks of the group in Eastern Visayas, the Philippine Army reported on Monday.
Brig. Gen. Ramil Bitong, commander of the Philippine Army 803rd Infantry Brigade based in Northern Samar, said a pursuit operation was launched against heavily-armed rebel fighters they engaged in a gun battle Saturday morning.
“The encounter in San Jorge is a significant accomplishment against the Communist-NPA Terrorists (CNTs). As of this report, our troops are pursuing the main body of the fleeing CNTs, comprised of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) leadership,” Bitong said in a statement issued to reporters.
Bitong said rebels have been planning to launch tactical offensives in Leyte and Samar provinces, prompting the brigade to step up their combat operations in northern part of Samar Island, considered as NPA’s stronghold in the region.
“This is another desperate attempt of the EVRPC to stay relevant by sowing fear and discontent among the residents of the region,” he added.
The gun battle in the remote village of Bay-ang in San Jorge town resulted in a slight injury of nine soldiers due to shrapnel from an explosion.
Soldiers found bloodstains in the enemy’s position but the number of wounded NPAs is still undetermined, according to the military.
The Philippine Army lauded residents of San Jorge and Motiong towns for providing reliable information on the abuses of communist rebels.
Bitong appealed to the remaining NPAs and their supporters to stop their activities and join the government’s development efforts.
