TACLOBAN CITY – A series of armed confrontations on Sunday (June 23) between government forces and communist rebels on Samar Island resulted in the death of a soldier and a rebel.
In Jiabong, Samar, a soldier was killed after engaging members of the New People’s Army in Barangay Nagbac at around 12:50 pm.
The soldiers, belonging to the 46th Infantry Battalion, were in Hapitan to conduct their community support program when they were attacked by the rebels belonging to the Yakal Platoon, sub-regional committee.
This resulted in the death of Sgt. Leo Jabinar.
Meanwhile, in Northern Samar, separate armed clashes between soldiers and rebels also took place on Sunday.
In Barangay Hitapian, Catubig town, a group of soldiers from the 20th Infantry Battalion engaged rebels at about 11:30 am.
The more than 15-minute firefight resulted in the death of a rebel and the recovery of two M-16 rifles and one R4 rifle.
Another armed clash occurred in Barangay Sag-od of Las Navas town at about 12:35 PM. In this incident, no injuries on either side were reported.
(ROBERT DEJON/JOEY A. GABIETA)
