NPA leader killed in clash with gov't troopers in Northern Samar —military

A leader of the New People's Army (NPA) died during a clash in Northern Samar with joint troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday, the military said.

The fatality was identified as Salvador Nordan alias Badok or Gahi, a leader of the NPA Sub-Regional Operational Command (SROC) Emporium, said to be facing criminal charges, mostly for murder and robbery, in Northern Samar.

According to the AFP, the clash occurred in Barangay Guba in Catarman at 10:10 a.m.

Troops from the Philippine Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade and the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office went to the area after receiving information regarding the presence of an armed group in the barangay conducting extortion.

A firefight ensued between the rebel group and the AFP-PNP forces which led to the killing of Nordan, the AFP said.

Authorities recovered from the clash site one cal. 45 pistol with ammunition and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Among the documents found were lists containing names of individuals providing support to the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA in Northern Samar, the military said.

Colonel Zosimo Oliveros, commander of the Philippine Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade, thanked the local community for informing authorities about the presence of the NPA in their area.

“We are thankful for the trust and confidence of the communities for the information to locate the hideouts of Salvador Nordan in Brgy Malvar, Salvacion, Guba, and San Julian, all of Catarman, Northern Samar. This only shows that they were already tired of the terroristic activities these NPA members have caused not only to the military but also to the helpless civilians,” he said.

“Ito na ang resulta ng pagtutulungan ng lokal na pamahalaan, security forces at ng taumbayan na matigil na ang pananakot at pangingikil ng mga teroristang NPA. Sawa at galit na ang taumbayan sa kanila. Bilang patunay dito ay ang pagtatag ng Barangay Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (BTF-ELCAC) at ang pagdeklara sa mga teroristang NPA bilang persona non-grata," Major General Pio Diñoso III, commander of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division, said.

Diñoso then urged the rebels to turn themselves in and start anew.

“Bagkus inaanyayahan pa rin natin ang mga kapatid natin na nalihis ng landas na magbalik loob sa gobyerno para muling makapiling ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.  Bukas palad kayong tatanggapin ng gobyerno at may nakalaang programa para sa inyo,” he said. —KG, GMA News