6 NPA fighters killed in Northern Samar clash

• Published date: 23 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

Six New People's Army (NPA) fighters were killed in a fierce gun battle with government forces in an upland Imelda village in Las Navas, Northern Samar early morning of Wednesday.

Capt. Valben Almirante, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade, said in a phone interview that the firefight destroyed a major lair with about 60 rebels.

Government troops met strong resistance en route to the rebel's heavily fortified hideout which prompted the request for close air support and artillery fires, according to Almirante.

'After the firefight, several rebels were wounded since there are many blood stains in the area. Some managed to escape from our troops. We have to use air assets to attack them since their hideout is surrounded by prohibited anti-personnel mines,' Almirante told the Philippine News Agency (PNA), adding that no one was hurt from the government side.

Troops recovered 16 firearms and several personal belongings.

Government forces managed to locate the lair through information given by the villagers.

The official said that the slain rebels were from the group belonging to the NPA's Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee and which they have been hunting down for attacking Dorillo village in Jipapad, Eastern Samar where two soldiers were killed.

The same attack injured a 10-year-old child and two...