1 dead, one wounded in police-NPA clash
NPA ON THE OFFENSIVE?
LINGAYEN—A policeman was killed and one wounded in a firefight with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the mountain borders of Pangasinan-Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya.
The lone fatality was PO2 Aries Tamondong and one member of the Regional Public Safety Battalion was wounded while their team was conducting combat operations in the tri-provincial boundaries when the fire-fight ensued at 9:20 a.m. and lasted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 28.
The wounded was identified as Jonielon Marius Bagcal, also of RPSB.
There was no mention of casualties from the rebels’ side.
P/Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, chief of the police-community relations of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO), said the firefight happened in the boundary of San Nicolas town’s Barangays Sta. Maria and Malico.
Reinforcements were sent by PNP and the Armed Forces to link up with the RPSB for the clearing operations late afternoon.
The reinforcements were from the Provincial Public Safety Company, RPSBI and 84 Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.
Florentino said the combat operations started Thursday but the encounter occurred only Friday.
He told newsmen earlier that there were sightings of NPA rebels in the tri-boundaries of Pangasinan, Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya.
The Regional Public Safety Battalion was deployed on account of sightings of rebels’ movements in the area.
He said the rebels are not homegrown as Pangasinan remains insurgency free. (Leonardo Micua)
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