Catbalogan, Samar — The highest military official of Eastern Visayas is allaying public anxiety following announcements by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Samar it is set to launch offensive strikes against Government troops and the police, among other entities here.

Major General Arthur Tabaquero, Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, based in barangay Maulong, this municipality, said the general public should not be alarmed about recent statements made by the rebel group indicating that they are about to launch a series of attacks on the military, the police and other government and private installations in this part of the country.

A spokesperson for the NPA operating in Samar province, who went by the name of Vicente Magbuhat recently issued pronouncements that the rebels will stage a string of guerilla offensives on the military, the police and various installations in Samar Island.

Such pronouncements by the insurgents has been met by anxiety from the citizenry who fear that, should the NPA make good their threats, this would result in an escalation of confrontations between the rebels and the military in Samar, and a deterioration in the peace and order situation in the island.

In a press conference held at his office here, Tabaquero made assurances that the military in the region is on top of the situation, where restiveness amongst the insurgents is concerned. “The public has nothing to worry about,” he said, brushing aside recent pronouncements made by the NPA that its offensive attacks might even include the general public.

The military commander underlined that the military in the region is “very much ready” to neutralize whatever moves the rebels might make in the region.

Tabaquero cited a recent encounter between 18 soldiers and over 50 NPA rebel elements in Barangay Hinubawan, Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar, which resulted in the death of at least 10 and the wounding of several amongst the NPAs versus eight wounded on the side of the military troopers.

A M16 rifle was also recovered by the soldiers from the rebel team. “The encounter,” claimed Tabaquero, “was clearly a setback for the rebels.”

Tabaquero also insisted that the rebels, are, in actuality, now on a downtrend and losing the people’s support. “They are just trying to hype up their strength for propaganda purposes because of the forthcoming 2010 elections,” he stressed. “What they would like to do, in fact, is for the candidates to secure from them (the rebels) a permit to campaign especially in interior communities.”