TACLOBAN CITY – Soldiers from the 63rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army raided a temporary New People’s Army (NPA) camp in Brgy. Magtino, Llorente, Eastern Samar, Monday (September 8).
The troops seized two M16 rifles, one caliber .45 pistol, two long and five short magazines of M16 A1, and one magazine of Cal. 45 pistol with five rounds of ammunition.
They also recovered five backpacks containing personal belongings, food items, and cooking utensils at the encounter site.
The NPAs were reportedly asking for food from the civilians, who were the 13 remaining members of the Sub-Regional Committee SESAME of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Meclat, Jr., Commanding Officer of 63IB, the operation was conducted to continuously insulate and protect the communities from the threats of the NPA in the area.
BGen. Noel Vestuir, Commander of the 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade, lauds the community for its determination to maintain peace and prevent NPA remnants from regaining influence in their areas.
“The people in the area are already enjoying the peace that we have worked hard for quite some time and we don’t want that peace to be disrupted by the presence of NPA remnants. It has been and will always be our commitment that we will continue to secure them against any individual or group who intends to destroy that peace,” he said. By Marie Tonette Marticio (EV Mail SEPTEMBER 8-14, 2025 issue)
