TACLOBAN CITY – At least alleged members of the New People’s Army or NPA were killed while several others have returned to the fold of the law following series of operations by government troops covering the months of May and June.
This was disclosed by the 8th Infantry Division (ID) which is under the command of Major General Adonis Ariel Orio.
Between May and June 2025, soldiers engaged in five armed encounters across Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, recovering nine high-powered firearms, war materiel, and intelligence that led to the disruption of major NPA units, according to a report released Tuesday, June 24.
“We have dealt another significant blow to the communist terrorist group ranks,” Orio said in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 24. “This is all thanks to the invaluable cooperation of the residents of Eastern Visayas.”
Among the most significant incidents was the June 3 clash in Catubig, Northern Samar, which resulted in the death of five NPA fighters, including identified leaders Noel Lebico Sr., Arnel Aquino, and Nonoy Norcio. The military recovered a Squad Automatic Weapon, an M16 rifle, and an Uzi submachine gun from the site.
Earlier, on May 26, two members of the Sub-Regional Committee Sesame—known by their aliases Jud/Atom/Iso and Nadin/Brix/Arian—surrendered in Basey, Samar, and turned over an M4 A1 Carbine and an M16 rifle to the 63rd Infantry Battalion.
On June 2, alias In-In, the vice squad leader of the NPA’s Squad 1, Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit Arctic, operating in Northern Samar, also surrendered to the 20th Infantry Battalion. His surrender led to the recovery of four firearms, hand grenades, and medical supplies from a hidden arms cache. Another rebel, alias Bug-ot of the Regional Guerrilla Unit under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), yielded to authorities the same day.
Further operations on June 9 in San Jose de Buan, Samar, saw government troops engage 30 suspected members of the Yakal Platoon. They recovered four M16 rifles, a .45-caliber pistol, medical kits, and personal belongings.
The most recent firefight took place on June 15 in Barangay Pinanag-an, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, where rebel Jomar Discar (also known as Guimo/Bobby) was killed and an M653 rifle seized.
Maj. Gen. Orio emphasized that these victories bring the region closer to “the final lap” in its campaign to end the decades-long insurgency.
“We will not rest until the threat posed by communist terrorist groups is fully eradicated. We will scour every mountain to find them and put an irreversible end to their atrocities,” Orio vowed.
Despite the intensified combat operations, Orio reiterated that the government remains open to peaceful resolution, calling on remaining NPA fighters to surrender and avail of the national amnesty program.
“These doors are open—not just for laying down arms, but for building new lives,” he added.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
