Samar: The Philippine Army said the recent series of armed encounters between government forces and remnants of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in Samar indicates a weakening of the rebels' strength.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division (8ID) stated that the NPA's losses in recent years have forced its members to engage in short, sporadic clashes while struggling to maintain cohesion. The 8ID emphasized that despite the NPA's attempts to evade government forces, troops remain relentless in their pursuit. The abandonment of fallen comrades again reveals the NPA's disregard for human life within their ranks, the military noted.

The statement followed a brief firefight on April 24 in the hinterlands of Barangay Caulayanan, Motiong, Samar, against remnants of the Yakal platoon of the NPA's sub-regional committee under the Eastern Visayas regional party committee. After the encounter, government troops recovered two unidentified bodies of rebels, along with an M14 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol, left behind by their comrades.

The 8ID highlighted that the recent encounter represents a significant setback to the already weakened communist terrorist group (CTG) in Eastern Visayas. The neutralization of these individuals and the recovery of their firearms further degrade the CTG's operational capability in Samar, reflecting the sustained pressure applied by troops on the ground.

Focused military operations continue in the area to track down fleeing NPA members and prevent further threats to community peace and security. The clash followed an incident a week earlier where a 17-year-old rebel was killed and several firearms were seized after a series of encounters in Barangay Salvacion, Jiabong, Samar. On the same day, government forces discovered a weapons cache in Barangay San Isidro, Sta. Rita, which included various pistols and revolvers.

Additionally, on April 16, government troops clashed with NPA remnants near Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar. The military reiterated its commitment to safeguarding citizens and national security, warning that continued armed resistance would lead to more loss of life and hardship for communist members and their families.