TACLOBAN CITY: A top leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) died in a clash between government forces and rebels in the upland Osmeña village in General MacArthur, Eastern Samar on Thursday.
The Philippine Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion (78IB) identified the slain rebel as Joel Guarino alias Duran, the squad leader of squad 2 of the recently dismantled Apoy Platoon of the NPA.
Lt. Col. Joseph Bugaoan said in a statement that government forces had an armed encounter with a band of seven NPA combatants early Thursday while troops were conducting development and security operations in the upland village of General MacArthur.
No one was hurt from the government side during the 20-minute firefight.
After the clash, soldiers recovered several war paraphernalia, including one caliber .45 pistol, one homemade grenade, various war materials, and documents with high intelligence value.
Bugaoan attributed the successful operation to the collective effort of the community and the government to finally end the local c
ommunist armed conflict.
‘The people tipped off the presence of these NPAs, that is why our soldiers were able to track their movement. But they were fired upon when the rebels saw the incoming troops,’ Bugaoan said in an update sent to reporters Thursday night.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, commended the troops for tracking the remnants of the recently dismantled Apoy platoon.
‘The neutralization of Guarino left the remnants of the newly dismantled platoon leaderless and without direction. Now, they have become just a roving band of bandits, hiding in the mountains to survive,’ Vestuir said.
The Apoy platoon has only 15 remaining members as of mid-2024.
He said this is another breakthrough in their campaign to win peace in the province of Eastern Samar as he calls for the remaining members to give up the armed struggle now that their leader is gone.
Source: Philippines News agency