Insurgency: Eastern Samar Clash

Despite the fact that the AFP, Duterte, and the NTF-ELCAC would rather have every terrorist surrender this has been a rather bloody week. In Eastern Samar one clash with the NPA resulted in 19 dead rebels.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150939

The Philippine Army has recovered three more bodies of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels after an intense firefight with soldiers on Aug. 16 at the outskirts of Dolores, Eastern Samar, bringing the number of fatalities to 19, a top military official said on Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Pio Diñoso, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, said two more bodies were found on Tuesday while another body was retrieved on Wednesday through the help of K9 units.

“After scouring the encounter site for days, we don’t expect to find more dead bodies, but we are sure that some of those wounded NPA fighters fleeing from government troops also died along the escape route,” Diñoso said in a phone interview.

At least 18 corpses were airlifted and brought to the headquarters of the 52nd Infantry Battalion in Dau village, Oras, Eastern Samar for proper disposition.

Soldiers also recovered three more firearms in the past two days, bringing to 32 the total weapons seized after the clash.

The armed confrontation on Aug. 16 is considered one of the most successful operations of government forces against the communist terrorist group.

About 50 rebels were hiding in a big lair in Osmeña village in Dolores town when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched an attack early Monday.

The AFP used its air assets as the rebels set up anti-personnel mines near the lair that serves as a hideout for its leaders and fighters.

The firefight started at 4 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m. before the rebels abandoned the lair.

The military described the lair as a big encampment, which had been maintained by rebels for several months. It has a multi-purpose hall for training and a bomb-making facility.

Government troops launched an intense attack acting on tips from villagers about the existence of NPA lair in the jungles, located just three kilometers away from the community.

In what is being considered one of the most successful operations against the NPA the AFP fought 50 rebels holed up in a lair for 13 hours. This lair was also a bomb making facility. They were alerted to its presence by the local villagers. It was also local villagers whose tips led to successful operations against the NPA in Agusan del Sur.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150683

The Army’s 65th Infantry Battalion (65IB) has recognized the vital support of civilians in military operations in the hinterlands of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur and in remote areas here.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, 65IB commander, Lt. Col. Emerson de Vera, said they have engaged the New People’s Army (NPA) in four armed encounters this month.

“The series of encounters are the results of the persistent reports from the residents in the area who are being terrorized by the communist NPA terrorists,” De Vera stated.

On Aug. 8, the 65IB troopers were dispatched to the boundary of Barangay Anticala here and Barangay Kulambogan in Sibagat after civilians reported the presence of NPA insurgents.

The AFP needs the help of civilians in fighting the insurgency. That is why they are urging villagers to help them dismantle the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151061

The local government of Dolores in Eastern Samar has called on residents to help put an end to the insurgency problem after the recent fierce encounter in their town with 19 New People's Army (NPA) rebels killed.

Mayor Shonny Niño Carpeso said in a statement on Thursday the locals play a very important role in driving out the communist terrorist group from their villages.

“The successful operation of the military is of big help to our town, making our people more alert and conscious on (the) movement of these communist groups and ensure (the) safety of communities,” Carpeso said.

Earlier, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone lauded the military and villagers of Dolores who provided information about the presence of rebel groups near a community.

“Had it not (been) for the close cooperation between the military and the local population, the campaign against the communists would not have been successful. I hope that this kind of close collaboration will continue so that we can attain peace and development in our province and country,” Evardone said in a statement.

The AFP says the success of this recent operation in E. Samar is a big blow to the NPA.

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150695

The death of 16 armed rebels and recovery of several firearms in Dolores, Eastern Samar on Aug. 16 is a “big blow” to the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Samar, a top military official said on Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Pio Diñoso III, commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the intense firefight that destroyed a major NPA lair and a bomb-making facility is the biggest accomplishment of the government since the creation of the national and local task forces on ending local communist armed conflict in 2019.

“The recovery of several firearms means that many fighters were wounded as they abandoned their firearms to flee from our troops. This will further weaken the NPA organization in Samar Island,” Diñoso said in a virtual press briefing.

“Maybe the NPA stayed as they fought to protect their leader. They kept coming back to the encampment probably to secure their laptops and other sensitive materials,” he added.

Diñoso described the lair as a big encampment, which had been maintained by rebels for several months. It has a multi-purpose hall for training and a bomb-making facility.

“We verified if it’s really accurate. We planned carefully and involved all AFP assets available,” he added.

The military official is optimistic that more rebels will surrender after the incident as they would realize that the government has all the resources needed to dismantle the communist terrorist group.

“If they won’t choose the path for peace, they will face the same plight. This is to show that the Philippine Army is strong and has the capability to end this armed conflict,” Diñoso told reporters.

It's good that the AFP has disabled this bomb making facility but why was it able to operate for months? How many bombs were made which ended up killing people? It's funny that despite knowing that there are terrorists out there making bombs and planning mischief and some who have actually killed people the government hopes more rebels will surrender to avail of the nice bribery package being offered. The government claims that the NPA is collapsing in Caraga due to all the surrenders.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151067

As more members of the communist terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) in Caraga return to the fold of the law, the rebel stronghold in the region begins to collapse, a ranking police official said Friday.

“The NPA in Caraga is now collapsing and are looming their total destruction, as more of their members realize the deceptions and manipulative schemes of their leaders who recruited them and used them to further their personal agenda,” said Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., the director of Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13).

Records from the police regional office showed that from January until July this year, a total of 624 NPA fighters and supporters have surrendered to the different units and police stations in the region.

In the same period, 201 NPA insurgents and supporters also surrendered to PRO-13.

A total of 243 high-powered firearms were also seized and surrendered during the period.

“The surrender of the three former rebels is due to the relentless anti-insurgency drive of the government with the goal of achieving peaceful and more prosperous communities in the region,” Caramat said.

He said the three wanted to end their violent lives and go back to their families and communities.

“The lies, hardship, and hunger inflicted on these former rebels were the reasons they shunned the NPA movement,” he said.

He urged the remaining insurgents in the region to abandon their false beliefs and doctrines and to return to the fold of the law.

How are NPA fighters supposed to "abandon their false beliefs and doctrines" when the AFP says they have no ideology? They have labelled the NPA as basically robbers with no redeeming qualities such as having a concern for the people. In another clash this week the AFP laid out two "notorious extortionists."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151255

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) described as “notorious terrorists” the two Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels killed during a clash with government troops in Silay City, Negros Occidental on Aug. 20.

They were identified as Kerima Lorena Tariman (alias Ella/Em-em), 42, and a certain Pabling, who both belonged to the Northern Negros Front (NNF) of the NPA’s Komite Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.

“[They] are not just headaches of the people. They are responsible for the fear and terror that ordinary people are experiencing in Negros,” said Maj. Cenon Pancito III, 3ID public affairs chief, in a statement on Sunday.

“No matter who they are in their personal capacity, they are enemies of the state. They are notorious terrorists operating in northern Negros,” he added.

Pancito said the duo were part of the group “responsible for a series of extortion and intimidation activities” in the area, including the burning of construction equipment in a community between Silay City and E.B. Magalona in April.

"NO matter who they are in their personal capacity, there are enemies of the state." What an admission. And not just enemies of the sate but enemies of the people too. If only EVERY terrorist were thought of and treated in that same way instead of the state of which they are enemies bribing them to surrender with enormous benefits packages paid for by the people.