Manila: Over 100 residents from two upland villages in Gandara, Samar, are currently sheltered in evacuation centers after fleeing their homes due to a series of clashes over the weekend between government troops and members of the New People's Army (NPA). The fear of a spillover of violence prompted residents near Barangay Geregangan to seek safety.

According to Philippines News Agency, data from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) indicates that 29 families, accounting for 88 individuals, have received assistance. In particular, eight families, comprising 24 individuals, sought refuge at the Barangay Minda Covered Court in Barangay Marcos. Additionally, local authorities have accommodated 21 families, or 64 individuals, from Barangay San Miguel.

To address the situation, the Philippine Army and the Gandara local government held an emergency meeting led by Mayor Warren Aguilar and other local officials. The discussions focused on preventing the armed group's movement into neighboring barangays and ensuring the continuous supply of food and essential resources for the affected residents, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the conflict.

These families relocated to the evacuation center on November 22, 2025, after soldiers encountered 15 armed men from Squad 2, Yakal Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee Browser of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee. The clashes resulted in the death of a female rebel and the recovery of several high-powered firearms.

The Philippine Army's 46th Infantry Battalion, under the 801st Infantry Brigade (IB), reported on Monday that a female member of the Sub-Regional Committee Browser of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee was killed during the armed encounters that began on Saturday. Troops recovered two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, war materiel, and personal belongings at the site of the encounter. The military stated that this seizure significantly impacts the operational capabilities of the NPA in the region.