The Mount Cansermon Command of the New People’s Army (MCC-NPA) claimed responsibility for an attack that left two policemen injured in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, February 13.
The ambush site was less than a kilometer from the Armed Forces Philippines forward base in Sitio Elenita and a few kilometers from another Philippine Army troop position in Sitio Bulwang in Bi-ao, Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, MCC-NPA spokesperson, said in a press statement released Monday, February 14.
PLt. Charles Richard Casalan, Binalbagan deputy police chief, and PCpl. Julius Tranquillero were injured when the NPA detonated an Anti-Personnel Mine and fired at their vehicle at Sitio Candida 2, Brgy. Bi-ao, Maj. Ellendie Rebusquillo, Binalbagan police chief, said on Sunday.
A 15-year-olf teenager was also hit in the buttocks in the crossfire, he added.
The policemen were responding to a report that a civilian had been killed by the rebels in Sitio Nursery, Brgy. Bi-ao, Rebusquillo said.
“The ambush was launched as an appropriate counter-offensive response as the Philippine National Police are being use in the Duterte regime’s counter-insurgency operations. This is the reason why they are considered as legitimate military targets,” Magbuelas said.
Inspired by the Communist Party of the Philippines’ call to intensify the people’s war amid deepening global and domestic social crisis, they “will launch more frequent tactical offensives against the fascist and bloodthirsty forces of the US-Duterte regime,” he added.*