TWO civilian workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have been ambushed by the New People’s Army (NPA) in a remote barangay in Samar province but luckily survived, according to a military spokesman.

Capt. Gene Orense, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s Eighth Infantry Division (ID), on Tuesday, identified the injured social workers as Renato Dacaymat and Harvey John Abelido.

According to Orense, the duo were on a motorcycle on their way to their workplace on Monday in Sitio Manobo, Brgy. Babaclayan, San Jose de Buan, Samar when some 15 NPAs fired on them.

Abelido was hit on his left chin and was immediately rushed to a medical facility for treatment.

The victims are facilitators of Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (Kalahi) Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Cidss), a community arm of the DSWD.

“The NPAs have been harassing Kalahi facilitators in the impoverished communities who have been very effective in their community development works. This only proves that the NPAs do not want the populace to uplift their living condition,” Lt. Col. Cerilo Balaoro Jr., battalion commander of the 87th ID, 8ID, PA, said.

Maj. Gen. Gerardo Layug, commander of 8ID, said that it is unfortunate that the NPA is targeting civilians doing community development works, which, he stressed, was a clear violation of international human rights and the rule of law.

“The NPAs in Samar province is losing their influenced over communities as a result of the effective convergence efforts made by the Philippine Army, local government units, Kalahi-Cidss/DSWD and other agencies of the government,” he said.

The incident was the second time social workers were harassed by the NPAs. On August, a Kalahi member was also abducted by NPAs at Brgy. Hagbay, San Jose de Buan, Samar.