While the exact number of casualties on the side of the rebels is yet to be ascertained, one thing is sure, there is no casualty on government side.
SOME 16 members of the New People's Army (NPA) were reported to have died from a 'focused military operations' conducted by the Joint Task Force Storm in Barangay Osmeña, Dolores, Eastern Samar, early dawn Monday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala reported in a government network in the afternoon today about the encounter.
However, a separate report from PNP said twenty-five (25) dead CTGs were accounted.
No one could immediately reconcile the inconsistent and conflicting figures.
In another published report, MGen. Pio Diñoso, commander of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army, was quoted as saying, “The casualties are yet to be finalized, pointing out that clearing and retrieval operations in the area is yet to be finished.”
8ID spokesperson Capt. Reynaldo Aragones said it could not give more details since operation was still ongoing as of 5:00 p.m. Wednesday .
“I cannot comment yet as to the number of casualties on the side of the rebels, but one thing is sure, there is no casualty on our side,” Aragones noted in a media interview.
“There was an intense firefight between our troops and the rebels. We have to ask for air support from the Air Force,” he added.
The Joint Task Force Storm was composed by the elements of 52nd IB, Phil Army and Philippine Air Force (PAF).
The government troops have recovered from the rebels 29 high powered firearms and 7 improvised explosive devices (IED).
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