PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief General Debold Sinas lauded the 12th Special Action Battalion of Eastern Visayas after it successfully defended its position from rebel attack and recovered weapons in Las Navas, Northern Samar.

The SAF commandos clashed with members of the New People's Army (NPA) while conducting internal security operations in Barangay Cuenco, Las Navas on March 25, 2021.

The firefight lasted for 20 minutes with no casualties reported on the government forces, according to the PNP.

As the rebels withdrew from the area, the SAF operatives recovered five pieces of improvised explosive device including two pieces of improvised clamor mines and three pieces of improvised grenade, one caliber .45 with one magazine loaded with six rounds of live ammunition, seven pieces of short magazines with 57 rounds of live ammunition, two bandoliers, two jungle backpacks and a mobile phone.

Eastern Visayas, particularly Samar Island, has remained a hotbed of insurgency with the continued presence of the NPA, which has been waging a Maoist-inspired guerrilla war since the late 1960s. (SunStar Philippines)