One rebel slain in encounter

CATBALCOGAN CITY- One NPA bandit was killed and two were wounded while a government trooper was slightly injured in an encounter in a remote village in Oras, Eastern Samar Wednesday at around 7:00 O’clock in the morning.

Lt. Colonel Armand Rico, Chief DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City, said that the wounded soldier, identified as Pfc Ramon Estico, is now in stable condition and recuperating.

The said encounter, the first in the area for this year, took place in sitio Tugop, Barangay Rizal, some 26 kms away from the town proper.

Lt. Col. Rico said that one of the 10 rebels belonging to SECOM, North East, Eastern Samar Provincial Party Committee, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee was killed while two others sustained injuries during the 30 minutes firefight that also resulted in the government troops from the 14th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Antonio Dayag recovering one M16 rifle bearing serial number: 135108, one rifle grenade, two back packs, one bandoler, three with full of ammunition, medical kit, one detonating cord with blasting cap, and personal belongings.

“The wounded rebels were dragged by their escaping comrades”, the information officer of the 8th ID said.

“Our soldiers, under Lt. Antonio Dayag, were in the area as part of their community work”, Rico said.

Major General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the division, immediately directed for the troops of the 14th IB, under Lt. Col. Jaime Hidalgo, to hunt down the rebels and intensify security operations in the area.