Amid intensified combat and siege operations of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units in barangays in Samar, the New People’s Army (NPA)-Western Samar (Arnulfo Ortiz Command) was able to launch sniping and counter-attacks, killing at least one fascist soldier and wounding
two.

On September 16, the NPA-Western Samar fired at 87th IB soldiers encamped in Barangay Canvais, Motiong, Samar. Villagers’ initial report said a soldier on look out duties was injured.

On September 14, the Red Army initiated gunfire against the 46th IB unit operating in Barangay Dugungan, Jiabong. It took two minutes before the AFP troops returned fire. One soldier of the 46th IB was killed in the encounter while another was reported seriously injured. A helicopter retrieved the fallen and the injured soldiers.

On September 11, an NPA-Western Samar unit thwarted the 46th IB’s attempted attack against their encampment in Barangay Salvacion, Jiabong. NPA said soldiers in civilian clothes pretended to be of the Red Army to deceive the masses. The Red Army seized the initiative in the battle and actively defended against the enemy.

“The active defense enabled the Red fighters to retreat safely without casualties and without leaving valuable equipment behind. The battle lasted five minutes,” the unit reported.