Cop hurt in clash with NPA

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A member of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6 was injured after trading shots with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Basak, Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Wednesday night.

Wounded was Patrolman John Imedio Gallero Javier, 27, of Isabela town, who is assigned as part of the technical support company of RMFB-6.

The clash came after troopers of the 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and RMFB-6 were conducting joint combat operations in the area around 8:20 p.m.

Police and the military encountered 10 armed men and engaged in a 15-minute fire fight, which resulted in the injury of Javier, who sustained a gunshot wound on his right leg. Authorities also reported one casualty on the rebel side.

Recovered from the encounter site were a rifle grenade, two magazines of AK47, 117 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, two pairs of rain boots, wires for improvised explosive device (IED), medical kit, two batteries, pouch, and two backpacks.

This is the third encounter of the 62nd IB in about two weeks since the Manjuyod clash of the 94th IB in Negros Occidental last October 3.

Brigadier General Eric Vinoya, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) – Negros, in a press statement said “this is the third blow of the task force against the communist-terrorists, hence, they should expect more intensive combat operations in the coming weeks as we utilize the air and naval assets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Sunod-sunod nating natatamaan ang mga kalaban dahil sa eksaktong impormasyon na binibigay ng mga mamamayan. Ang kanilang pagtulong ay nagpapahiwatig ng kanilang kagustuhan na matuldukan na ang deka-dekadang pagmamalupit sa kanila ng mga teroristang Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – NPA,” Vinoya said, as he commended the vigilance of the Negrenses.

Last October 6, the 62nd IB also encountered the NPA at Barangay Buenavista in Himamaylan City, following the discovery of the rebel encampment at the said village last October 5.