2 soldiers hurt in Samar clash

Two soldiers were wounded in a recent clash between Army troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Gamay, Northern Samar, the military said Tuesday.

Cpt. Gene Orense, spokesman of the Army’s 8th division, said the clash happened last Sunday at around 5:15 a.m. in Barangay Henogawe in Gamay town.

Two members of the 34th battalion Charlie Company namely Pfc. Nelson Rosete and Pvt. Oliver Duenas were hurt during the 15-minute firefight.

Soldiers recovered an improvised explosive device with one switch/detonator, a radio, a mobile phone, a magazine for cal. 45 pistol and 25 meters electrical wire from the encounter site.

Maj. Gen. Gerardo Layug, chief of the 8th Infantry Division, said his troops would continue to promote peace and development in the area despite the incident.

Meanwhile, the Alpha Company of the 34th battalion has recovered five improvised explosive devices, a hand grenade, a rifle grenade and a long magazine of AK-47 in a separate clash with rebels in Palapag town.

Layug said the recovery of the explosive devices manifests the NPA’s “blatant disregard” of the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

He noted that the law prohibits, among other actions, the use of any explosive device that can cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians.

“I call on everyone to condemn this unnecessary and senseless act of violence perpetrated by the NPA against your soldiers conducting peace and development activities in the community and our people,” Layug said.

The military estimates that there are about 4,000 communist rebels in the country. – Alexis Romero