ILOILO City – Late Tuesday night bursts of gunfire were heard near a detachment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Barangay Pasi, Igbaras, Iloilo.
This was likely the handiwork of rebels, according to Inspector Oman Bryndell Estabillo, Igbaras police chief.
The gunfire was heard around 10:10 p.m. “a few kilometers” from the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade Bravo Company, said Estabillo.
The soldiers fired back and nothing more was heard from where the bursts of gunfire were heard, according to the police chief.
“We don’t know if the Army was the target or if it was just a form of harassment,” said Estabillo.
Barangay Pasi is a remote, mountainous area.
The Bravo Company was in the area to secure the Century Peak hydro-dam project.
Following Tuesday night’s incident, Estabillo put his men on alert.
“We know our area is rebel-infested,” said Estabillo.
During a visit to Iloilo on June 23, Philippine National Police’s (PNP) General Ronald Dela Rosa reminded policemen to tightly guard their stations.
The New People’s Army raided the police station of Maasin, Iloilo on June 18.
Dela Rosa said police stations have the responsibility to “fight till death once attacked.”
“Once you take oath as a police officer you must be ready to die anytime. Nagpulis ka pa kung talawan ka (Why be a cop if you’re a coward),” he said.
The Maasin police station was attacked nearly three weeks after the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) alerted it and 14 other police stations that rebels were planning to conduct raids.
The other police stations were in San Joaquin, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Igbaras, Alimodian, Leon, Calinog, Bingawan, Badiangan, San Enrique, Passi City, San Rafael, and Lemery./PN
