SLAIN SOLDIER. Cpl. Loreto Cachola. Jr., the soldier killed during a clash with rebels on Monday (Sept. 26, 2022) in Victoria town, Northern Samar province. The gun battle happened after soldiers responded to the report of villagers about an armed group conducting extortion activities.(Photo courtesy of Philippine Army) TACLOBAN CITY - The Philippine Army is mourning the death of a soldier who was killed in a clash with New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the upland Luisita village in Victoria town, Northern Samar province on Monday. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Philippine Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade (IB) said Cpl. Loreto Cachola. Jr. was hit in the neck which caused his instant death due to the surprise attack staged by the communist terrorist group. "We express our condolences to the parents of the late Corporal Cachalo for his heroism and gallantry in action in support to the attainment of lasting peace and development in the province of Northern Samar," s
LEAVING NPA. The 10 former rebels who recently surrendered to government forces in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar province. The Philippine Army said on Monday (Aug. 1, 2022) all of them received immediate assistance and services from the government. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army) TACLOBAN CITY - The local government of Lope de Vega, Northern Samar and the Philippine Army have extended assistance to 10 former members of the New People's Army (NPA) to encourage more rebels to surrender. 1st Lt. Benigno Lopez, spokesperson of the Army's 43rd Infantry Battalion, said series of needed services have been provided to former rebels who surrendered on July 20. "Besides the provision of immediate assistance, the municipal task force to end local communist armed conflict members decided to help in fulfilling the wishes of the surrenderers to be able to legally marry and for their children to get legal identities," Lopez said in a phone interview on Monday. Lopez said Lope de
EVACUATION. A Black Hawk helicopter was sent to Mapanas, Northern Samar to evacuate seven soldiers injured by anti-personnel mine explosion planted by the New People's Army (NPA) on July 5, 2022. The Philippine Army on Wednesday (July 6) urged the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the use of banned explosives by the NPA.(Photo courtesy of Philippine Army) TACLOBAN CITY - The Philippine Army has urged the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the use of anti-personnel mines by the New People's Army (NPA) in Northern Samar that injured seven soldiers. In a statement released on Wednesday, Col. Perfecto Penaredondo, commander of the Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade, condemned the communist terrorist group for its blatant violation of the use of banned explosives. "I urged the community and the local governments to condemn this dastardly act of the NPA terrorists and I also called the attention of the Commission of Human Rights to investigate these continuous viol
NEW ROAD. A portion of the completed Samar Pacific Coastal Road in Northern Samar. The opening of the Simora Bridge in Northern Samar and the 8-kilometer concrete road on Tuesday (June 28, 2022) will benefit over 5,000 poor residents in remote communities of the province, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported.(Photo courtesy of DPWH) TACLOBAN CITY - The opening of the Simora Bridge and the 8-kilometer concrete road in Northern Samar will benefit over 5,000 poor residents in remote communities of the province, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has reported. The newly completed bridge and road section, part of the foreign-funded Samar Pacific Coastal Road, will benefit coconut and rice farmers in nine villages in the coastal towns of Palapag, Laoang, and Catubig in Northern Samar. The PHP1.12 billion coastal road project will link the Pacific towns in Northern Samar. "After four years of challenging construction, the partial opening of the Samar Pacif
The map of Mapanas, Northern Samar. (Google image) TACLOBAN CITY - At least two soldiers were wounded when they clashed with members of the New People's Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of Mapanas, Northern Samar on Monday. Capt. Jay-ar Cuevas, operations officer of the Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade said there was "strong resistance" from 10 members of the communist terrorist group during the 20-minute gun battle in upland Siljagon village in Mapanas town. "We are still gathering information from the community on the number of casualties or wounded from the enemy side. We are thankful for the locals who informed us about their presence. These NPA members had been frequently monitored terrorizing and extorting the people of Mapanas, Palapag and Gamay towns in Northern Samar," Cuevas told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview Tuesday. The clash happened past 6 a.m. on Monday. The encounter site is only a kilometer away from the community. The offi