NPA rebels waylaid Army troops conducting HADR in Samar

By DPAO, 8ID PA
December 19, 2015

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – The Army troops of 546th Engineering Construction Battalion and 81st Division Reconnaissance Company involved in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Operations (HADRO) for typhoon ‘Nona’ victims were waylaid by more or less five NPA rebels at the vicinity of Brgy. Madalunot, Pinabacdao, Samar at around 7:20 a.m., today.

The convoy of three trucks (one M35 Truck vehicle, one Mignon Civilian Vehicle, and one mini-dump truck) was led by 1st Lt. Fritz F. Perez. The troops were on their way back to Tacloban City to gather more relief goods to give to victims of typhoon “Nona”. They were with two female personnel from DSWD who were going back to their base at OCD Region 8 when they were waylaid by an undetermined number of NPA.

The firefight ensued 15 minutes resulted to two soldiers wounded and undetermined casualties to the rebels as they withdraw in different directions.

The 8ID strongly condemns the ambush done by the NPA against Army troops involved in HADR operations.

Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, Commander, 8ID said “This clearly shows the NPA’s disregard to the plight of our brothers and sisters in Samar who were devastated by the onslaught of storm “Nona”. This is also a clear indication that the NPAs continuously and deliberately conduct atrocities against our troops and public servants who are only doing their job to alleviate the suffering experienced by storm victims in Visayas.”

“However, rest assured that this attack will not hamper our ongoing HADR operations for the victims of “Nona” who are in need of our help. We will continue with our relief and assistance operations for the victims of the typhoon, he added.