by Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Seven insurgents, all members of the terrorists’ group New People’s Army, were killed in an armed encounter with government troops at about 3 a.m. of April 30 (Sunday) at the mountainous part of Barangay Santander in Bobon, Northern Samar.
Initial police report, which was later confirmed by the 8th Infantry Division (8ID), a team of soldiers, led by Colonel Efren Morados of the 803rd Infantry Brigade (803 IBde), encountered in that area a group of terrorists that resulted in an intense gunfight that killed seven of the terrorists’ side and none of the government’s.
The 803 IBde troops, together with Lt. Manuel Degay Jr. and Capt. Carl Ryan Abellar, were conducting a major military combat operations in the area when they clashed with the group of about 40 terrorists, led by a certain Normie “alias Oppo” Castillo, Mario “Durok“ Sevillano, and Joshua “Meyong” Sagdolias.
Durok was a notorious terrorists leader who perpetrated many atrocities in Northern Samar, according to Capt. Jefferson Mariano, chief of the 8ID Public Affairs Office. It was not immediately known however if the three terrorist leaders were among those who died in the firefight.
Mariano told the media that the military operation was carried out, in coordination with the provincial police after concerned residents tipped the government off about a group of armed men passing through the outskirts of the barangay.
The terrorists—belonging to the remnants of the NPA’s dismantled committees operating in the region—were holed in hideouts that were heavily fortified and surrounded by the banned anti-personnel mines (APMs). But they were effectively overwhelmed by the government troops forcing them to hastily retreat deeper into the mountains.
Post-firefight clearing of the area revealed the seven yet unidentified killed terrorists and the recovery of four firearms—one R4 rifles, two M16 armalites, an AK47 assault rifle—APMs and subversive documents, said Mariano.
As the clearing operations continued later into the day, Mariano said there were profuse traces of bloodstain along the terrorists’ route of withdrawal, indicating they were suffering from heavy losses.
The leadership of the 8th ID for the meantime refused to confirm reports that Bayan Muna Sec General Joshua Sagdullas , a UP Tacloban Political Science student before joing the CPP/NPA group, is among of the casualties.
” wala tayong confirmation dyan on going pa ang investigation dun sa mga casualties,unless makilala ng family ang mga ito” Mariano added.
Bobon town Mayor Reny Celespara issued a message in local language to the terrorists: “I am calling on you to surrender and help the government instead. Those who are lost from the right path, those who are wounded as well, surrender now. The government—local, provincial, regional, and national—is right here, ready to help you take a new life, so that the country’s prosperity for your families shall continue.”
Major General Camilo Ligayo, 8ID commander, told the media that the success of the government troops was made possible by the recent efforts to clear the areas once controlled by the terrorists, and hinder their logistics and operations.
“With the help of the local chief executives, since last year, we had already cleared the areas where these terrorists committees had been operating. The residents of Northern Samar now understand more of their responsibility to help resolve this insurgency,” Ligayo said.
Time and again, Ligayo have been reminding the terrorists. “We urge the remaining members of the (terrorists) to lay down their arms and go home to their families. The government is willing and eager to help you to start a normal life,” declared the general. —Miriam G. Desacada
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