TACLOBAN CITY – The 8th Infantry Division (8ID) identified top leaders of the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Emporium, under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), among the six terrorists killed in an encounter on Monday (December 2) in the hinterlands of Barangay Paco, Las Navas, Northern Samar.
The casualties included Ariel Baselga, known by aliases “Aries and Polly,” Renar Diaz alias “Beloy and Monmon,” Rey Tafalla alias “Bunso,” James Arandia alias “Taying,” Maricar Asinas, alias “Ikar,” and alias “Kagid,” all identified by their former comrades. Baselga served as the Secretary of SRC Emporium. He directed the operations of SRC Emporium, enforced the orders of the EVRPC, and authorized tactical offensives in Northern Samar.
Diaz was the Vice Commander of the Sub-Regional Operations Command for SRC Emporium. He was responsible for planning and supervising the tactical operations of the NPA units under SRC Emporium. Following the encounter, troops on the ground requested Air Force helicopters to airlift the bodies and process them for the arrival of their families or relatives to claim them.
The Joint Task Force Storm and the 8th ID Commander, Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, extended his condolences to the families of those killed in the encounter while reiterating the Army’s commitment to upholding dignity and respect, even for adversaries, saying, “It is saddening to see fellow Filipinos deceived by the false ideologies of communist terrorists meet such a tragic end.”
The said encounter not only resulted in the deaths of six NPA members but also led to the recovery of four firearms, grenade, assorted ammunition, cell phones, and notes, seized by soldiers from the 19th Infantry “Commando” Battalion of the 803rd Infantry Brigade of the Army. (By Marie Tonette Marticio / EV Mail December 2-8, 2024 issue)
