Army clashed with NPA in Basey town

By 1Lt. MARIO JOSE M. CHICO, (QMS) PA
December 4, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  Operating troops from 62nd Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Jonathan G. Ponce of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army clashed anew with NPA extortionists at vicinity of Brgy. Mabini of Basey town on November 30, 2006 at 10 a.m. There was no casualty on the government side while undetermined killed and wounded on the enemy side as evidenced by numerous bloodstains found along the escape route of the terrorists.

Reports reaching 8ID Headquarters stated that said troops acted on a text message from concerned residents regarding the presence of more or less ten (10) communist terrorists belonging to the CPP-NPA-NDF represented in the region by a former priest turned terrorist Fr. Santiago Salas. Allegedly, said communist terrorist band was extorting foodstuffs from the populace of said community.

The encounter was the second to occur this month in the vicinity of Barangay Mabini located at the hinterlands of Basey town in Western Samar. The last one happened on November 10, 2006 wherein a NPA terrorist was killed.

The upsurge in frequency of combat encounters by the Army troopers and the NPA terrorist group was basically the result of the enhanced coordination between the Army and the civilian populace. Undeniably, the people in the hinterland communities were fed up with the extortion and terroristic activities, the constant threats of being labeled as military informants, and their economic hardship due to the grim presence of the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorists in their area.