TACLOBAN CITY– A high-ranking rebel leader died in an encounter in a remote village of Borongan City on Saturday (Jan.6) which also resulted in the wounding of a soldier.
Killed was Martin Colima, who was known as alias “Moki”, the secretary of the sub-regional committee Sesame, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee which operates in Eastern Samar province.
Colima died as a result of an encounter in Barangay San Gabriel at about 11:30 am while the members of the 78th Infantry Battalion were conducting their operation in the area.
The soldiers were in San Gabriel after receiving report from the villagers that a group of armed men, which turned out to be the group of Colima, were conducting their extortion activities, a report from the 802nd Infantry Brigade, the mother unit of the 78th IB, said.
A soldier, Cpl. John Deo Adao, was hit on his left thigh and is now recovering in an undisclosed hospital.
Recovered by the soldiers during the 30-minute firefight was a Caliber 45 pistol from the rebels who fled in different directions.
Lt. Col.Allan Tria, the commanding officer of the 78th IB, said that Colima was the mastermind of an ambush incident along a national highway in Brgy. Libuton, also in Borongan City, on Dec. 13, 2019 that resulted in the death of a policeman and three civilians.
At least 12 civilians, including three minors, were wounded in the said incident.
B/Gen. Noel Vestuir, the commanding officer of the 802nd IB, said that he was saddened with the death of Colima as he condoled with his family.
“In as much as we in the 802nd IB had addressed the concerns of the people of Borongan City by preventing the atrocities being planned by the communist terrorist group and in insulating their communities from the group of @Moki, I am saddened of the death of another fellow Filipino,” he said in a statement.
“In behalf of the Philippine Army, I express my condolences to the bereaved family and relatives of Martin Colima, along with my appeal for his family and relatives in Brgy San Mateo, Borongan City to claim his remains once the process for his identification is finished, and give him a decent burial,” Vestuir added.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
