Cops wounded in Tubungan  clash cited for bravery

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

Two policemen who were wounded in an encounter with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Tubungan, Iloilo over the weekend were cited for their bravery.

Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, Western Visayas police chief, awarded the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting to Corporal Genel Simpas and Patrolman Jessie Castamado of the 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC)

The pinning of the medal was held Oct 26, 2021 at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City where Simpas remains in confinement.

He also assured the two policemen that the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) will shoulder all their hospital expenses.

On top of that, Miranda also gave financial assistance to the two personnel.

Simpas and Castamado suffered non-life-threatening injuries after they were hit by shrapnel after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off during an encounter afternoon of Oct 24 at Barangay Jolason, Tubungan.

The 1st IPMFC troops were pursuing members of the Southern Front of NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay when the incident happened.

Police are not discounting the possibility that the rebels could have incurred fatalities during the 7-minute exchange of gunfire.

The clash was an offshoot of the harassment perpetrated by the rebels at the patrol base of Mayang detachment several hours prior to that.