CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City — A series of military operations in Northern Samar that began in October this year resulted in the neutralization of a top communist terrorist of Eastern Visayas and 20 other members of the communist terrorist group (CTG).
Armed Forces of the PhillipineP Chief of Staff LtGen Bartolome Vicente Bacarro personally gave his congratulations to the troops of the 803rd Infantry Brigade during his visit to their headquarters in Brgy Sumoroy, Catarman, Northern Samar .
The operation on November 23 at Barangay Imelda in the town of Las Navas resulted in the death of Helenita Pardales, known as the leader of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Five other ranking terrorists were killed in a joint operation spearheaded by the 803rd Infantry Brigade under the supervision of the Joint Task Force Storm (8th Infantry Division).
A total of ten communist terrorists were killed in the six (6) armed engagements since October 7. seven CTG members also surrendered, four (4) were apprehended, and thirty-eight firearms were seized from the enemy in this period.
General Bacarro assured the troops of the continued support of the General Headquarters as the AFP ramps up its efforts to finally end the communist armed conflict in the country.
This strategic accomplishment is expected to result in the disintegration of the CTG in Samar Island and significantly affect their presence in neighboring provinces as the EVRPC connects the CTGs in Visayas and Mindanao to those in Luzon, according to 8th ID Storm Troopers. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
