THE Police Regional Office (PRO) and the Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas mourned the death of their fallen comrades in a separate encounter with the suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar, and in Bontoc, Southern Leyte.
Patrolman Mario “Marmar” Beter Caramol, of the 805th Maneuver Company-Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Eastern Visayas, was killed during the clash with around 10 rebels while they were conducting combat operation in Silvino Lobos town Thursday, August 19, 2021.
“This PRO strongly denounces the brutal encounter that resulted in the death of one of our comrades in the Philippine National Police service,” the police regional command said.
In a statement, PRO added it “will not stop hunting down the perpetrators.”
The Philippine Army’s 14th Infantry Battalion also honored the “sacrifice and heroism” of Staff Sergeant Benedict Diño who died during the more than one-hour encounter with more or less 11 rebels in the vicinity of Barangay Lawgawan in Bontoc Wednesday, August 18.
Another government trooper Private First Class Bernard Jack Idlisan was wounded during the incident.
The army has yet to identify the two suspected rebels who were killed during the firefight.
Poverty-stricken Eastern Visayas remains a hotbed of insurgency in the country with the continued presence of the Maoist-inspired rebels since the 1960s. (SunStar Philippines)