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[av_heading heading=’‘ACT OF TERROR’ PRO-6 orders offensives after NPA Sibalom ambush ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – An “act of terrorism” was how the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) described the New People’s Army’s ambush of policemen in Sibalom, Antique on Wednesday.
The regional police director, Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, ordered offensive operations against the rebels across the region yesterday.
“The PRO-6 is ready to fight,” declared Binag.
The ambush left four policemen wounded.
“The community should know that this armed group remains a threat to the peace and development of the province (of Antique) and the entire region,” said Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 spokesperson.
The rebels were on an extortion spree, according to Binag.
He urged Ilonggos to alert the police “because the more we tolerate them the more they will sabotage peace and order.”
On Wednesday, the government terminated the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front four days after President Rodrigo Duterte said he would declare the NPA a terrorist group.
Gorero said the Sibalom ambush was “an act of terrorism because it marred the tranquility of the province for years.”
The PRO-6 is ready at all times to quell terrorists and preserve the region’s peace, he added.
In the Sibalom ambush, an undetermined number of rebels set off an improvised explosive device that damaged a police patrol car and a private vehicle before spraying the policemen with bullets.
“Let us work together in ensuring that the gains we have made in building peace and development are preserved and shall not be destroyed by this threat group,” said Gorero.
Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said the ambush was an isolated incident.
The police force and the provincial government were “on top of the situation,” Cadiao stressed yesterday.
“We are giving all-out support to the police for the maintenance of peace and order,” she added.
The clash prompted Sibalom’s Mayor Joel Occeña to suspend classes on Wednesday.
The NPA carried out this offensive two days after Philippine Army soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion clashed with rebels on Nov. 20 in the hinterlands of Barangay Trangka, Maasin, Iloilo.
The men of Lieutenant Gilbert Facunla proceeded to the area after receiving information that armed men were extorting money from residents, said Brigadier General Pio Dinioso, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade.
The encounter erupted around 12:20 p.m. It lasted for some 45 minutes.
Government troops believed they were able to hurt some of the rebels, citing drops of blood on the path the insurgents took as they fled.
The soldiers were also able to recover four backpacks of the rebels numbering between 30 to 40.
“We are thankful that the community immediately informed us about the presence of the rebels in their area,” said Dinioso.
On Nov. 12, armed men believed to be rebels fired at the detachment of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s 3rd Maneuver Platoon in Barangay Bolo, Maasin.
Bursts of gunfire were heard around 5:15 a.m. some 25 meters away from the detachment under Chief Inspector Ronnie Brillo, said Senior Inspector Feliz Alianza, Maasin police chief.
Brillo’s men returned fire, forcing at least four rebels to withdraw, said Alianza. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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