ILOILO City – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has placed its units across the province on high alert status following the gunbattle between police forces and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Boloc, Tubungan, Iloilo yesterday morning.
Colonel Roland Vilela, IPPO director, said troops of the 601st Company of the Regional Mobile Forces Battalion were conducting patrol operations when they were attacked by fully-armed men believed to be communist guerillas. A 10-minute firefight ensued, after which the bandits withdrew in different directions.
Shortly after the rebels scampered, Vilela said some of them mounted a new attack, targeting the police blocking force led by Police Captain Bonifacio Alabe. The encounter also lasted for about 10 minutes.
No one was hurt on the government side, according to Vilela, but undetermined on the enemy’s.
The attack came six days before the 51st founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Dec. 26.
Vilela said they have tightened security in police posts and government installations across the province in preparation for possible attacks by leftist guerrillas.
“More checkpoints will be put up across the province and policemen will intensify their proactive security measures this holiday season,” he added.
Vilela said he was happy that no one got injured from his men and they were able to repel NPA’s atrocities.
“We already sent more policemen to secure the area and pursue those outlaws,” he said.
On the other hand, both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are in full alert status and all the police and soldiers are not allowed to leave this holiday season except for sick leave.
Army Captain Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of 3rd infantry Division said they sent more soldiers to the Tubungan town and other neighboring towns to augment security forces.
“We have no holiday break. We are currently under heightened and anticipating increased NPA atrocities in the coming days,” said Pancito.
The NPA is the armed winged of CPP and both groups are listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
/PN
