ARMY troopers seized five firearms in an encounter with suspected New People's Army (NPA) members in an upland village of San Jose de Buan, Samar, on Monday.
“With this recent seizure of firearms since May 2025, we have not only degraded the communist NPA terrorists’ capability to sow fear among our communities, but we’ve also shown that armed struggle has no sanctuary in Samar,” said Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) based in Catbalogan City, Samar.
“The 8th Infantry Division will strive to sustain the momentum. Combined with socio-economic interventions and cooperation, we are your partners in bringing lasting peace to the region,” added Orio in a statement to the media on Tuesday, June 10.
Major Jefferson Mariano, 8ID spokesperson, stated that the recovered firearms during "focused military operations" initiated by the 87th Infantry Battalion at Barangay Can-aponte, San Jose de Buan, included four M16 rifles and one .45-caliber pistol. A mobile phone, medical supplies, and personal belongings were also found.
“The clash erupted after concerned residents reported the presence of armed men allegedly passing through a farm in the area,” he added.
Since the start of June, the 8ID has intensified its operations. These have resulted in the recovery of more than 12 high-powered firearms, the deaths of eight alleged rebel members, and the surrender of alias "In-In." The Army identified "In-In" as "a key figure in the Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit, Sub-Regional Committee Arctic, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC)."
Samar Island, which continues to be affected by poverty, has long been a hotbed of insurgency in the Eastern Visayas region.
The communist rebel group, which has waged a Maoist-inspired guerrilla war since the late 1960s, maintains its presence there. (Ronald Reyes/SunStar Philippines)