Pro-6 labels npa harassment as cowardly acts vs gov’t forces

TRY AGAIN, and try harder.

The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) downplayed the alleged harassment conducted by members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

At around 9:30 p.m. of March 31, 2019 around 15 armed persons fired at San Remigio Police Station. The rebels were located more or less 300 meters from the station.

“They don’t have plans to engage with our troops or that of the Philippine Army. Takot din naman sila na pasukin ang istasyon,” said Police Brigadier General John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police chief.

“Gusto nila magpasiklab pero takot naman sila,” he said.

Bulalacao said they have been constantly doing prophylactic or pre-emptive patrols, especially in far-flung areas that are most vulnerable to rebel attacks.

Even the Philippine Army also noted the NPA’s reluctance to go head on against government forces showed their weakness.

On March 28, around 18 NPA rebels also fired at the Philippine Army 61st Infantry Battalion’s CAA (CAFGU Active Auxiliary) Detachment at the boundary of barangays Agcalaga and Garangan in Calinog, Iloilo.

Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot Jr., commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion, simply laughed off the “rebels’ futile attempt to celebrate their anniversary.”

The fully-armed men believed to be members of the Iglabon Platoon of the NPA’s Central Front Committee-Komiteng Rehiyon Panay, positioned themselves 300 meters away from the detachment.

Last week, a series of encounters happened in Panay Island, particularly in the southern part of the province.

Major General Dinoh Dolina, Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division commander, said they took the clashes positively, since the government troops have been initiating the offensive operations against the rebels.

The latest encounter happened between the 61st IB troops and suspected NPA combatants shortly after midnight of March 24, 2019 at Sitio Burak, Barangay Alimodias, Miagao.

Prior to that, an encounter also occurred early morning of March 20 at Sitio Igburay, Barangay Indaluyon, Igbaras, Iloilo.

The first clash happened in Barangay Mulangan, Igbaras on March 17 and the other happened at Barangay Osorio 1, San Remegio, Antique on March 19.