Government troops in Samar clash w/ rebels; seize four armalite rifles

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines  — Soldiers of the 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion, in a tipoff from residents, went to McArthur town, Eastern Samar yesterday and found about 25 armed rebels of the New People's Army marauding in the area of Brgy. Macapagal of the town.

The government troops, led by 1st Lt. Dariel Dagpin, engaged the communist terrorists, led by a certain Jovencio Daiz, in a gunbattle. After about 30 minutes, the rebels scampered and withdrew toward different directions but left behind four M-16 armalite rifles.

Daiz was reportedly the platoon leader of the Florencio Elairon Command of Eastern Samar Provincial Party Committee of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee of the CPP/NPA/NDF.

Colonel Hemilo Demafiles, commander of the 34th Infantry Battalion, in his incident report yesterday, said the information about the presence of the rebels in the area came from residents of the barangay at about 7 a.m. yesterday.

He immediately dispatched the troops of Dagpin to the area, resulting in the gunbattle. Two hours after the rebels fled, the troops again encountered the same group a few kilometers from the first site. The soldiers had to conduct pursuit operations, which was still ongoing as of presstime.

Demafiles said there was no report of casualty on the government's side while an undetermined number of killed rebels have been relayed to him, although this has yet to be verified.

This accomplishment of the soldiers in Eastern Visayas was lauded by Major Gen. Mario Chan, commander of the 8th Infantry Division.

Chan said he already directed his men to press on the pursuit operation to neutralize the fleeing enemy.

"The continuing success of our operations in the area of Eastern Samar has kept the communist terrorists on the run. We should therefore continue with the initiative and pursue them so that we could put an end to their terrorist activities against our people."

Chan has again expressed his appreciation to the people who gave the timely and accurate information to the troops about the rebels. (FREEMAN)