In a series of confrontations in the mountainous region of Sto. Niño village, Paranas, Samar, two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) lost their lives on February 5, 2025. The Philippine Army disclosed the incident on the following day, noting that the identities of the deceased rebels remain unknown. The initial clash occurred at around 5 a.m. when soldiers from the 33rd Special Forces Company and the 87th Infantry Brigade engaged with an unspecified number of NPA fighters from the Yakal platoon, part of the Eastern Visayas regional party committee. A subsequent encounter took place three hours later as the same group of rebels tried to escape, leading to another brief but fatal exchange of fire with the 87th IB’s blocking forces. The skirmishes resulted in the recovery of significant military equipment, including an M16 rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, two anti-personnel mines prohibited by International Humanitarian Law, a rifle grenade, and various magazines and ammunition. Brig. Gen. Lenart Lelina, head of the 801st Infantry Brigade, expressed condolences to the families of the fallen rebels and reaffirmed the military’s dedication to peace and reconciliation. He encouraged remaining NPA members to surrender and join government reintegration programs. The operations were intensified following tips from local civilians about armed men involved in extortion activities. Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, praised the community’s cooperation and vowed to continue efforts to eliminate the NPA presence in Eastern Visayas, while also extending an offer of assistance to those wishing to surrender and start anew.
