Residents of Northern Samar evacuate due to military vs. NPA encounters

Some residents of Barangay Hitapi-an in Catubig town, Northern Samar, fled on Saturday for fear of being caught in a clash between the military and communist rebels.

Most of those most affected are the residents of Sitio San Jose Hibubullao.

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According to Catubig town resident Jamil Borja Rebay, the residents there are scared because of the encounter between the soldiers and the New People’s Army.

The damage it caused to a house in the barangay, where its roof was punctured due to the encounter on Saturday morning, is still visible.

Fortunately, the occupants of this house woke up early, so no one was hurt in the incident.

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The Catubig Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office staff took some affected residents to the evacuation center, while others chose to go to the homes of relatives.

But some residents, including some barangay officials and tanods, stay in their area to guard their property and animals.

In Borongan, Eastern Samar, a suspected NPA member was allegedly killed in an encounter with the military.

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An encounter allegedly occurred between the rebels and the 78th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Barangay San Andres, Borongan, at 11:05 a.m., Sunday.

Residents of Northern Samar evacuate due to military vs. NPA encounters

Based on initial information from the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, an estimated 15 NPA members encountered the military for 20 minutes until the rebels retreated.

No one was killed on the military side.

Among the items recovered by the soldiers from the NPA were an M16 rifle and a 5.56mm rifle magazine.

Meanwhile, eight houses were consumed in the fire in Atti Clan, Barangay Arena Blanco Sunday morning.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at 9:05 p.m. But the fire spread quickly, especially since the houses consumed by the fire were made only of light materials.

Firefighters declared fire out at 9:50 p.m.

In the initial investigation, faulty wiring was the cause of the fire.

The fire caused damage to the tune of P400,000.

No one was injured or killed in the fire.

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