TACLOBAN CITY – At least seven members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed during an encounter with soldiers on Sunday in the upland village of Bobon town in Northern Samar.

Troops from the Army’s 803rd Infantry Brigade encountered 40 rebels in the hinterlands of Santander village in Bobon town following a tip from residents of sightings of armed men in the outskirts of their village.

The armed rebels belong to the Sub-regional Guerrilla Unit and remnants of the dismantled Front Committee-2, Sub-regional Committee Emporium of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee led by Mario Sevillano.

The Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) in a statement late Sunday said Sevillano is a notorious rebel leader who perpetrated numerous atrocities in Northern Samar province.

Soldiers called for close air and artillery support since the NPA lair was heavily fortified and surrounded by prohibited anti-personnel mines.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, 8ID commander, said the success of the operation was made possible through the efforts to clear the NPA’s area of operations, blocking their logistical and operational support.

“Last year, we cleared the area of operations of the Front Committee 2 that prompted their dismantling, with the help of local government officials. The people in Northern Samar now understand their duty to end insurgency,” Ligayo said.

The same NPA unit is notorious for numerous atrocities in Northern Samar such as ambuscades, extortions and killings, according to Ligayo.

One of which is the attack of two unarmed Citizen Armed Force Geographical Units Active Auxiliary members in San Isidro, Northern Samar last August 2021.

Soldiers recovered one R4 rifle, two M16 rifles, one AK47 rifle, anti-personnel mine and subversive documents. Philippine News Agency

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