CATARMAN, Northern Samar: The provincial government has awarded Army troops who were wounded in a gunbattle in Barangay Hinagonoyan in Catubig at the height of Typhoon Urduja (international code name: Kai-Tak) with the Wounded Personnel Medal and P40,000 cash each on Tuesday. Gen. Mario Lacurom, commanding general of the 803rd Brigade based in Camp Sumoroy, Catarman, and Vice Governor Gary Laving handed over the medals, cash awards and grocery items to Cpl. A gunbattle ensued, lasting for more than an hour and resulting in the wounding of the two Army troops who were immediately ferried to the hospitaL. There was no report whether the NPAs suffered casualties as they retreated to mountainous areas of Las Navas and Catubig. Lacurom said, “Your Army in Northern Samar strongly condemns such atrocities being inflicted by the NPA in the hinterlands causing fear and panic among residents.

Source: Manila Times December 20, 2017 12:33 UTC