Catbalogan City – An unidentified Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army Terrorist (CNT) was killed in an encounter with the troops of 20th Infantry Battalion in the hinterlands of Barangay Anongo, Catubig Northern Samar yesterday morning Sept. 14.
While the Mobile Community Support and Sustainment Team was conducting combat patrol at the vicinity of Barangay Anongo, the troops engaged in a 10-minute firefight against more or less 10 members of the Communiat Party of the Philippines that resulted to the killing of one NPA and the seizure of four backpacks, a 30-round magazine assembly, an M203 empty shell, seven rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, subversive documents, and other personal belongings.
Accordingly the slain rebel is a member of Front Committee 15, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) ARCTIC, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) who was abandoned by his fleeing comrades.
The Commanding Officer of 20th Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Joemar Buban expressed his sympathy to family and friends of the killed CNT and called on the remnants of the communist terrorists in Northern Samar to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law.
“To all remaining members of the Communist NPA Terrorists, surrender peacefully and return to your families. The government awaits you with open arms, ready to support your fresh start through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and other Task Force Balik-Loob initiatives. Embrace this opportunity for a better future,” Lt. Col. Buban said.
The Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) Chair of Catubig, Mayor Solomon Vicencio pledged that the Catubignon will continue to support the Philippine Army and the Government in the fight of ending the local communist armed conflict in Northern Samar.
“Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng mga kapatid nating naliligaw pa rin ng landas at patuloy na nabibiktima ng maling ideolohiya, panahon na para magbalik-loob kayo sa gobyerno at umuwi kayo sa inyong mga tahanan. Panahon na para itigil ang armadong pakikibaka. Mananatiling bukas ang aming himpilan sa inyong pagbabalik. Sabay-sabay tayo sa pagsusulong nang tunay na kapayapaan at tuluy-tuloy na kaunlaran sa minamahal nating Catubig,” Vicencio expressed.
Meanwhile, the 8th Infantry Division Commander, Major General Camilo Z Ligayo also expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased rebel.
“Another life has been lost in the war against the senseless ideology of the Communist NPA Terrorists. Let us put an end to this way of life of constant struggle and fear. The door is still open for those who want to surrender to live a better and more peaceful life” Maj. Gen. Ligayo stressed.
Maj.Gen.Ligayo also expressed that Government troops will never cease in the fight of ending the decades-long insurgency in the region.
“Your Army in Eastern Visayas will be relentless in pursuing the remnants of the communist terrorists in Northern Samar to finally put an end to the last bastion of insurgency in the country.”