Article by:
Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – A policeman was killed while five government troops were wounded in an ambush by the New People's Army (NPA) using anti-personnel mines in Las Navas, Northern Samar on Monday.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said in its initial report that the team was heading to Osang village in Catubig, Northern Samar when the communist terrorist group detonated mines around 7 a.m.
The fatality and the five wounded -- three police officers and two soldiers -- are part of the community support program (CSP) team deployed in remote Osang village.
The policemen are members of the PNP’s 1st Police Mobile Force Company based in Catubig town while the soldiers belong to the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion based in Las Navas, Northern Samar.
Killed on the spot was Pat. Harvie Lovino, 30, a resident of San Isidro, Northern Samar. Those injured were brought to Catarman Doctor's Hospital in Catarman town for treatment.
Osang is one of the six villages in Northern Samar covered by the national government’s Barangay Development Program (BDP). Each village is a recipient of the PHP20 million infrastructure projects such as farm-to-market roads, school buildings, village health stations, and water supply systems.
The BDP, a hallmark program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, brings development to former conflict-prone communities.
This is the second anti-personnel mine attack launched by the NPA in Catubig town this year targeting CSP team members.
On March 22, rebels detonated mines in Nagoocan village of Catubig town which wounded a soldier.
Philippine Army's 20th Infantry Battalion spokesperson 2nd Lt. Sarah Jane Escobio earlier said the NPA returned to said community in their bid to recover the lost mass base.
Northern Samar is considered the hotbed of the communist terrorist group due to its thick forest and poor road networks.
The high incidence of poverty makes people in upland communities vulnerable to the persuasion of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA)
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