Samar clash: One rebel dead, one hurt and captured

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines  — A member of the New People's Army was killed, and a wounded one was captured during a 15-minute encounter with the Philippine Army soldiers at Barangay Bunga in Motiong town of Samar at around 9:30 a.m. yesterday.

The fatality was identified as 46-year-old Jenny Gabane, while the wounded and captured was 25-year-old Michael Gabane, alias Lagbo.

Based on the initial report of Lieutenant Colonel George Domingo, commander of the 87th Infantry Battalion, the soldiers were conducting combat operations to check reports about the presence of rebels in the outskirts of Bunga.

While approaching the NPA’s temporary camp, the troops encountered a group of heavily armed rebels, resulting in the firefight. When the rebels withdrew, the soldiers scoured the area, where they subsequently found the wounded Michael and the dead body of Jenny, a male rebel.

The troops gave first aid to the wounded rebel and immediately evacuated him to Camp Lukban Station Hospital.

They also recovered from the NPA lair a .45-caliber pistol with live ammunition, a .38-caliber gun, empty shells of bullets from an AK-47 rifle, two backpacks containing personal belongings, and documents the military deemed as subversive and with high intelligence value.

Meanwhile, Major General Jet Velarmino, 8th Infantry Division commander, in a statement lauded the troops for abiding with the rules of engagement, particularly in situations warranting attendance to wounded enemy combatants. He said it bespeaks of “our troops respect to the Rule of Law, Human Rights, and International Humanitarian Law.”

Velarmino added: “These local NPA combatants are victims themselves of communist leaders who take advantage of them just to pursue their personal motives.”  (FREEMAN)