Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, August 11, that it seems that the New People’s Army rebels had the intelligence upper hand in what he called the “ambush” of policemen in Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava in Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
PMaj. Ronald Santillan, Calatrava police chief, said the policemen had been given the go signal to proceed to Minapasok to serve warrants of arrest on members of the NPA.
Philippine Army soldiers were already in the area, he said.
Along the way the Calatrava policemen spotted armed men and disembarked from their vehicle to engage them in a firefight, Santillan said.
There were about 20 to 30 rebels armed with a M203 grenade launcher and some had maneuvered to higher ground placing the policemen at a disadvantage, Santillan added.
Killed was PCpl. Jaime Nunez and injured were PCapt. Jesus Alba, PCpl. Dennis Nasis and PSSgt Frank Caballero.
Asked if he thought it was bungled intelligence work that caused the incident, Lacson said “Let’s just put it this way, there’s intelligence on both sides…in this case it seems that the rebels had the upper hand”.
“In fact there were two incidents, the ambush and the killing of two alleged intel personnel of the military,” he said.
He said the rebels have already admitted responsibility to the death of the two civilians.
“This is not the first time there was an ambush but of course it is not rampant, but again we have to continue to be vigilant,” he said.
“We want a peaceful society and so we cannot allow this to continue,” he said, as he stressed the need to continue to push for the ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict) by enticing the followers of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA to come down and join the mainstream of society.
He said the hardcore rebels will not listen to the call of government so they are focusing on their followers to surrender.
Lacson said through ELCAC it has already been proven that those who surrendered were given a new opportunity to start all over again.
“That incident in Calatrava gives us more reason to push for the success of ELCAC”, he said.*