Army probers discover identity of Samar ambush attackers

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Dec. 2 (PNA) - Investigators of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8th ID) are now digging up the identities of those behind the ambuscade of 14th Infantry Batallion soldiers.

Two soldiers were killed and three others were injured during the attack on Nov. 27 in Socorro village, this city.

Among the prime suspect of the attack is Kumander Murad, the secretary of the New People’s Army (NPA) Central Front Samar 1, sub-regional committee.

Murad’s group operating from the area of Tinambacan district in Calbayog City to Paranas town, has been closely monitored by the military.

Capt. Isagani Viernes, 8th ID public affairs office acting chief said that once they are done with the investigation they will file criminal charges against the suspect.

“We are still validating of what criminal cases can be filed against them considering that they violated the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and they also act some robbery,” Viernes said

The suspect carted away the PhP1.8 million subsistence allowances for soldiers of the 14th Infantry Battalion based on Oras, Eastern Samar.

Murad’s group was also linked to the July 11 attacked at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Catbalogan City. The incident killed an inmate and wounded jail guards. The group also took away some personal belongings and firearms.

Viernes added that they already forwarded a request and coordinated with the finance center of the Philippine Army for the possible replacement of the money robbed by rebels.

The official assured that the attack launched by suspected NPA members will not affect the on-going internal security operations of the military.

Top army officials instructed all field personnel to take extra careful and follow the operational security to avoid ambuscade. Rebels are expected to launch more attacks in time for the celebration for their anniversary on Dec. 26. (PNA)
CTB/SQM/RTA

Army declares 42 towns in Eastern Visayas as rebel-free

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 26 (PNA) -– In the past two years, the Philippine Army has declared 42 towns in Eastern Visayas as insurgency-free, raising military’s confidence that the region will attain the rebel-free status by next year.

In a report to the Regional Development Council (RDC) development administration committee, Lt. Col. Ferdinand Bajarin, assistant chief of staff for intelligence of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8th ID) said that of the 42 areas, nine are in Northern Samar, four in Samar, four in Eastern Samar and 25 in Leyte.

“This is in line with our effort to declare Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Leyte as insurgency-free by 2016,” Bajarin said.

Since October 2013, declared as insurgent-free are the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, San Antonio, San Vicente, Rosario, Lavezares, San Jose, and San Roque in Northern Samar; Alamagro, Tagapul-an, Sto. Nino, and Daram in Samar; Guiuan, Mercedes, Lawaan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar.

In Leyte, listed as rebel-free are Palompon, Bato, Matalom, Inopacan, Tabon-tabon, Dulag, Julita, Babatngon, Tabango, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Hindang, Barugo, San Miguel, Leyte, Pastrana, Hilongos, Tolosa, Mayorga, Matag-ob, Merida, Dagami, Calubian, Sta. Fe, and Alangalang.

These areas have been jointly declared as free from threats of New People’s Army (NPA) by local government units and Army battalions in the region.

Bajarin admitted that NPA remained a major security threat in the region since it is undertaking terrorist activities such as murder, extortion, ambuscade, raid and mass mobilizations.

However, the organization has been weakening in the past few years as it is not anymore capable of launching major attacks.

“This year, there were only two ambush incidents in Samar provinces. With those enemy activities, we could already see that that insurgency in Eastern is on the downtrend,” he added.

Lt. Col. Rodrigo Ilustrisimo, chief of the 8th ID Communication-Electronics and Information Systems, said that more towns will be declared as insurgency-free before the end of 2015 and early next year.

“We are on track of making Eastern Visayas insurgency-free by 2016. This has been done by bridging the gap between government and populace,” Ilustrisimo said.

The official emphasized the value of building roads to provide access for the delivery of services, bring trade opportunities, and contribute to peace and order efforts. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO