PNP: Aug 25 encounter was against NPA
THE PNP’s Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) is standing firm in its claim that its operation last August 25 encountered NPA rebels in Barangays Malico and Barangay Sta. Maria in San Nicolas town, that resulted in the deaths of three suspected NPA members.
P/Superintendent Virgilio Pascua, PPSC Chief based in Tayug, said prior to the police operation, his office received information from civilians and workers of Northern Builder’s Construction Firm involved in the construction of the Villa Verde trail in the boundary of San Nicolas and Sta. Fe, Nueva Viscaya that there were presence of 10 to 15 armed men in the mountainous areas of Barangays Malico and Sta. Maria.
Pascual said the team that was immediately sent to verify the report armed encountered the group of armed men and the firefight that ensued resulted in the death of three unidentified male suspects.
The bodies of the killed suspected NPA members were identified by there family members, a day after the encounter.
P/Chief Inspector Norman Florentino, information officer of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, said two were eventually identified as Crisologo Alambra alias Celso, 59, married, a resident of Barangay Luna, Poblacion West, Lupao, Nueva Ecija (identified and claimed by her younger sister Annabelle Alambra); and Marcelo Perico alias Marcial, 46, of 28 Banna Uy St. Barangay District 1, Cauayan City, Isabela (claimed and identified by his elder sister Adelaida Perico).
The third dead suspect remains unidentified and now at Erfe Funeral Homes in Tayug.
Police authorities recovered from the crime scene were IED (landmine estimate diameter), trip wires (36 meters more or less), pistol submachine gun (9mm), two rifle grenade, assorted ammunitions and magazines and two units of cell phones.
The daughter of Alambra is crying for justice because she clams her father was not a member of the New Peoples Army but a treasure hunter, and also a legitimate voter and resident in Lupao.
She said her family is ready to file a case against the authorities who conducted the police operation.
Pascua, who extended his condolences to the bereaved family, said it is the right of the families of the fatalities to file a case but added that the police operation was legitimate and they have proofs that the fatalities were part of the NPA platoon from Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya.
Pascua said PNP and PPSC remain in full alert status not only in Pangasinan but nationwide for possible attacks by NPA. (Nora Dominguez)
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