2 CTG members killed, firearms seized in Eastern Samar clash
The Philippine Army reported Saturday that two unidentified members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) were killed and two high-powered firearms were recovered following an armed encounter in the remote hinterlands of Barangay Jicontol, Dolores, Eastern Samar, on 28 October.
In a statement, the Army's 8th Infantry Division (8ID) said joint government forces neutralized a fortified CTG encampment after receiving intelligence from local residents about the presence of heavily armed members allegedly planning extortion activities and threatening agrarian communities in the area.
As government troops advanced toward the encampment, they encountered a defensive perimeter reportedly rigged with several anti-personnel landmines.
The 8ID said it deployed air assets to neutralize the explosive hazards and clear the way for ground troops, while tactical artillery fire was directed at the encampment's fortified positions to weaken the defenses and suppress enemy fire.
The division described the use of air and artillery support as a necessary response to the threat posed by the landmines and the fortified positions.
“The CTG’s cowardly use of banned landmines put our soldiers' lives in extreme peril. We utilized our superior fire capabilities strictly to breach those explosive traps, soften their fortified positions, and protect our personnel from becoming casualties,” the 8ID commander said.
The encounter left two unidentified CTG members dead, with two high-powered firearms recovered. No casualties were reported among government forces.
The 8ID said it has coordinated with local government units and civil-military operations teams to ensure public safety, address the aftermath of the encounter, and provide assistance to nearby communities.
Pursuit operations against fleeing CTG members are ongoing, the division added.
The Army also urged remaining CTG members to surrender and return to mainstream society, citing government reintegration programs available to former rebels.
“Surrender is not a sign of weakness; it is an act of courage to choose a new life,” the 8ID said.