87th Infantry Battalion recovers anew one M16 rifle from NPA

By DPAO, 8ID PA
December 16, 2013

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar – Troops of the 87th Infantry Battalion (87IB) tasked to conduct pursuit operations encountered a band of NPA rebels at Brgy Sto Niño, Motiong, Samar on December 14, 2013 and recovered one (1) Armalite rifle.

Based on the report of 87IB, their troops were tracking the NPAs at Brgy Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar last December 13, 2013 when they received a report from a concerned civilian that the NPAs were hiding at Barangay Sto. Niño, six (6) kilometers away. This is the same NPA group that the army encountered at Brgy Bay-ang, where one NPA was killed and the army recovered one (1) caliber 45 pistol.

The troops immediately proceeded to Brgy Sto Niño and were engaged by the insurgents when they got near the location. A five (5) minute firefight ensued until the NPAs withdrew, leaving behind one (1) Armalite rifle and traces of blood indicating casualties on their side. There was no casualty on the part of the government soldiers.

On the same day, two NPAs surrendered with firearms on two separate occasions. At around 2:00AM, Roberto F. Abunaler aka “Edgar”, NPA member operating in Eastern Samar surrendered to 14th Infantry Battalion bringing along with him one (1) Garand Rifle. Likewise, at around 9:00PM, Jeffrey Pajarito Delfin, aka “Jason/Hapon”, NPA member operating in Samar voluntarily surrendered to 20th Infantry Battalion bringing along his caliber 357.