Solon asks military: Revalidate rebel-free declaration

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento (1st district, Samar) told The FREEMAN he was surprised to learn about the armed clash at Barangay Tapol in Paranas town of Samar, Tuesday afternoon, considering that military officials in the province have been declaring the areas as insurgency-free.

At least two of 20 soldiers of the 802st Infantry Brigade were seriously wounded in a 15-minute firefight with members of the New People’s Army at Barangay Tapol in Paranas town of Samar, Tuesday afternoon.

Major Amado Aquirre, spokesman of the 8th Infantry Division, identified the wounded soldiers as Privates First Class Jorgie Sanica and Diego Relalde, who are now in stable condition at the 8th ID’s hospital in Camp Lukban in Catbalogan City.

Aguirre said there were more than 10 rebels who were either killed or wounded, as evidenced by the blood stains along the escape route from the encounter scene.

Based on the incident, Sarmiento suggested military officials to revalidate the insurgency situation all over the region before taking such declarations.

Colonel Dinoh Dolina, 802nd IBde commander, however said the military in Leyte alone, has declared 23 of 42 towns as insurgency-free areas in Eastern Visayas.

Dolina however made it clear that a joint team from the Philippine Army, the police and the local government units have been conducting the validation of towns. “It is not only the military making such declarations,” he added.