Cops on ‘defensive mode’ after series of NPA atrocities

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here is on defensive mode, following the series of atrocities recently perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) in the province.

The NPA has recently claimed the killing of a barangay watchman in Moises Padilla town on Nov. 20, and the ambush-slay of two soldiers in Sipalay City on Nov. 24, 2022.

Just this week, troopers of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) clashed with the NPA in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla town on Nov. 27, killing two rebels.

Despite these cases, Nocppo public information officer Police Lieutenant Judesses Catalogo said the province is generally peaceful.

In a regular virtual press briefing yesterday, Catalogo said the insurgence is getting active lately because the NPA’s anniversary is slated next month.

Thus, they are strengthening their coordination with the Philippine Army, Catalogo said.

“This is why our breaks were suspended during the yuletide season,” he added.

Catalogo said they are mourning the death of the two soldiers in an ambush in Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City last week, as they also condemned the NPA for the incident.

The soldiers, who were intelligence operatives of the 47th IB based in Barangay Haba, Candoni town, were supposed to conduct coordination activities in relation to local peace engagement when they were attacked.

Meanwhile, the 62nd IB identified the two suspected NPA rebels killed in a clash in Moises Padilla town last Monday.

The fatalities were Johnhilll Sarsa alias “Mark,” of Barangay Planas, and Dalmacio Dela Torre alias “Delmar,” of Barangay Trinidad, both in Guilhulngan City, Negros Oriental.

According to the 62nd IB, Sarsa was an alleged political officer of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) Platoon  Lenovo, Central Negros Front 1 (CN1), Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS) of NPA, while Dela Torre was a suspected member of CN1, KR-NCBS.

The encounter happened while the Army was conducting security operations in response to the killing of a tanod in the town.

Major General Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (ID), in a statement, said the Army is determined to end the local armed conflict, for they have the support and cooperation of the Negrenses who shared with them the same vision of having a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-free Negros.