A New People’s Army (NPA) statement released Sunday, August 13, said its forces executed two intelligence assets of the Army for “espionage” and seized five firearms from a police vehicle during an “ambush” in Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on August 9.
A unit of the Roselyn Jean Pelle Command-New People’s Army Northern Negros Guerrilla Front seized four assault rifles, ammunition and a .45 caliber pistol after an ambush on a patrol vehicle carrying 10 police personnel of the Calatrava Municipal Police Station at 9:40 a.m. on August 9, Cecil Estrella, RJPC-NPA spokesperson, claimed.
The police had not reported firearms being seized from them and called the August 9 incident an encounter.
Estrella said the NPA used selective rifle fire and a command-detonated explosive to ensure the safety of civilians aboard the canter truck and rescue vehicle accompanying the patrol vehicle.
Killed was PCpl. Jaime Nuñez Jr. and injured was Calatrava deputy police chief, PCapt. Jesus Alba, PCpl. Dennis Nazis and PSSgt. Frank Caballero.
At about 5 a.m. of the same day 3 kilometers from the ambush site, the same NPA unit enforced the death verdict of the People’s Revolutionary Court for the capital crime of espionage and related grave offenses on Elisio Mahilum and Felix Resotay Sr. in Sitio Batyogon, Barangay Minapasok, Estrella said.
The two were active intelligence assets of the AFP who served as guides in combat operations, Estrella claims.
Government claims of “dismantled” and “weakened” guerrilla fronts and “remnant” fighters are insubstantial, Estrella also said.
Lt.Col. Arnel P. Calaoagan, 79th Infantry Battalion commander, earlier condemned what he called the barbaric act initiated by the NPA that resulted to the death of two innocent civilians in Calatrava.*