CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar — Government troops have reported a series of military successes in Northern Samar over the past month, with 14 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) neutralized and at least 15 firearms recovered during sustained combat and surrender operations led by the 8th Infantry “Stormtroopers” Division (8ID).
The operations, which spanned late July through August, targeted units under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), the regional NPA command in Eastern Visayas.
According to military reports, the campaign began with a major engagement on July 31, when government forces clashed with the EVRPC’s regional headquarters in Barangay San Isidro, Las Navas, Northern Samar. The back-to-back encounters left eight NPA members dead, including four identified as high-value individuals, while another NPA member surrendered.
Troops from the 803rd Infantry Brigade also seized 10 high-powered firearms during the operation, which military officials described as a significant blow to the NPA’s local armed strength.
More surrenders followed weeks later. On August 24, three NPA members turned themselves in to the 78th Infantry Battalion, handing over a .45-caliber pistol and a 9mm firearm. The surrenderers reportedly cited growing internal hardship and the loss of community support as their main reasons for abandoning the armed struggle.
“These are not just military gains—they are milestones in our push for peace,” said Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, Commander of the 8ID. “We strike hard against those who continue to sow violence, but we also welcome those who choose the path of peace.”
A third major encounter occurred on August 27, when soldiers from the 78th Infantry Battalion engaged about 10 armed rebels in an upland area of Barangay San Jose, Mapanas. The hour-long firefight left two NPA members dead and led to the recovery of two M16 rifles and other combat equipment.
The fatalities were later identified as Motaw Ortazo alias “Ibaro,” a resident of Mapanas, and Edwin Verano alias “Sammy” from Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar.
Following the clash, the 8ID coordinated with the local government of Mapanas to ensure that the bodies were buried respectfully—part of the Army’s commitment to uphold human rights and humanitarian standards during conflict.
“We remain firm in our duty to protect communities and pursue justice,” Orio said, “but we also recognize the humanity of those we fight. Our message to the remaining members is simple: there is still time to surrender, return to your families, and rebuild your lives.”
Orio also criticized the EVRPC for continuing to spread what he described as “false ideologies that only prolong poverty and violence” in the region.
“Their lies have misled people for far too long. The 8ID will remain relentless in its operations until the threat is fully neutralized—whether through surrender or other means,” he added.
The recent operations form part of a wider counterinsurgency campaign by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) aimed at dismantling remaining NPA units in the Visayas.
Eastern Visayas has seen a steady decline in active insurgency in recent years, a trend the military attributes to intensified combat efforts, localized peace talks, and support from local governments.
Officials again urged the remaining NPA fighters to take advantage of government reintegration programs, including the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and the National Amnesty Program, which offer assistance and livelihood support to former rebels.
via Ricky Bautista
