Philippine Army Denounces NPA for Violations in Samar Clash

TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) has strongly denounced the New People’s Army (NPA) for committing serious breaches of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) following a deadly clash on December 3 in Samar.

According to the 8ID, soldiers were deployed to the upland village of Babaclayon in San Jose de Buan after residents reported that NPA militants had forcibly entered private properties and were using civilian homes as temporary shelters.

Upon arrival, troops encountered heavy gunfire from the insurgents, which led to a defensive engagement. "The soldiers maneuvered to protect civilians within the area but were treacherously targeted by the armed group, resulting in the deaths of two troops conducting security operations to safeguard the community," the 8ID said in a statement on Friday.

The division emphasized that these actions represent a flagrant violation of IHL provisions that protect civilian populations during armed conflict. It condemned the NPA for their continued disregard for civilian safety and the established rules of engagement.

Following the incident, pursuit operations have been launched to apprehend the remaining NPA members involved in the encounter.

San Jose de Buan, a fourth-class municipality with a population of nearly 8,000, is considered a strategic NPA stronghold due to its location at the tri-boundaries of Northern, Eastern, and Samar provinces on Samar Island.