Rebels attack disaster response truck in N. Samar; soldier killed, 3 comrades hurt

 TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 22 (PNA) -– A soldier was killed and three other government troopers were wounded when suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attack a military disaster response truck in northern Samar early Tuesday morning, hours before the start of 12-day unilateral ceasefire.

The military cargo truck was heading to the town center of Las Navas, carrying six soldiers tasked to deliver equipment for Las Navas Agro-Industrial School, a training center run by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The ambuscade took place in the remote village of Bukid around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

The firefight with undetermined number of suspected communist rebels lasted for 15 minutes, said Capt. Isagani Viernes, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City, Samar.

Las Navas, a fourth class farming town, is about 317 kilometers north from the regional capital of Tacloban.

Equipment are supposed to be used for disaster response in the town after typhoon "Nona’s" devastation.

Viernes refused to name the victims since their families are not yet informed about the incident. The army troops belong to the 20th Infantry Battalion based in Opong village, Catubig, Northern Samar.

Wounded soldiers were brought to hospitals in Tacloban City and in a district hospital in Catubig town in Northern Samar for treatment.

“Since the aftermath of typhoon Nona, we don’t have military offensive since our focus is on disaster response. Rebels are taking advantage on our operation,” Viernes said.

The rebels launched the attack before the 12-day holiday truce and four days after the ambuscade of a disaster response military in Pinabacdao, Samar.

President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved the recommendation of the Department of National Defense for the unilateral declaration of the Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) against the NPA for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The SOMO will commence at 12:01 a.m. of December 23, 2015 and would end at 11:59 p.m. of January 3, 2016.

“We will be on defensive mode even if there’s SOMO because rebels traditionally mark their anniversary with atrocities,” Viernes added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army will celebrate its 47th founding anniversary on Dec. 26. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano

Rebels attack gov’t trucks used for post-'Nona' response in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) –- Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebel group ambushed on Friday morning government trucks being used to transport relief goods for victims of typhoon "Nona" in Samar provinces.

Initial reports said the ambush took place around 7:30 a.m. between Madalunot and Pahug villages in Pinabacdao town which is about 49 kilometers from this city. At least two soldiers were wounded from the attack.

Trucks were carrying 32 soldiers from 546 Engineering Battalion and 81st Division Reconnaisance Company based in this city. The troops were heading to Tacloban after delivering relief goods in eastern Samar on Thursday.

Capt. Isagani Viernes, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division said the three trucks are scheduled to pick up more relief goods in Tacloban on Friday.

The Philippine Army is still gathering more details on the incident.

The military has already sent a reinforcement team from the 87th Infantry Battalion based in Calbiga, Samar to the ambush site.

“The NPAs are continuously and deliberately conduct atrocities like ambuscades against our troops who are only doing their job to assist in Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response (HADR) Operations, secure peace and share the Christmas spirit,” Viernes said.

The official, however, assured that the attack will not hamper the ongoing HADR operations to help typhoon "Nona" victims in Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar provinces. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano and Roel T. Amazona

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 joins bloodletting activity in Samar

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Dec. 2 (PNA) - The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, represented by the Restructured Reenlistment Training (RRT) students of the Division Training School (DTS), participated and provided assistance to the bloodletting activity organized by the city health office here on Tuesday.

The activity, in support to the World AIDS Day celebration of this city, was dubbed as "Zero HIV Transmission Through Safe Blood Donation: Be a Blood Donor."

Local government units, city police office, reservist from Samar College and villagers from the city also joined the activity. It was facilitated by the city health office as organizers.

Major Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, 8th ID commander encouraged everyone to participate in activities like this in order to strengthen the spirit of bayanihan (heroism), which is the trademark of every Filipino.

This activity is just part of the efforts of the city health office for its continuing community relation service in cooperation with local government units, private sectors and other stakeholders. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/PR