Northern Samar villagers flee homes amid NPA attacks

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — At least 500 families or more than 1,000 people from two barangays in Catubig, Northern Samar have evacuated their homes amid attacks by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and clashes between government troopers and the insurgents.

Rei Echano of the Northern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said 308 families from Barangay Hitapian and 200 families from Barangay San Jose Hibubullao were brought to evacuation centers on Sunday.

“The PDRRMO is augmenting the local DRRMO in providing relief goods and assistance to the evacuees,” Echano said.

Several NPA guerrillas reportedly barged into the houses of villagers amid an ongoing military offensive.

At past midnight on Saturday, Crispin Nale Mordido, chairman of Barangay San Andres in Las Navas town was gunned down by suspected NPA rebels who entered his house.

On July 9, Pfc. John Vincent Bocaboc was killed when NPA rebels attacked soldiers of the 20th Infantry Battalion who were conducting a community support program in Barangay Victory, also in Las Navas.

Village watchman Arnil Bantilo and a six-year-old girl were wounded after they were hit by stray bullets.