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[av_heading heading=’Rebels bomb, shoot Sibalom policemen ‘ 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 undetermined number of suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed policemen in Barangay Bontol, Sibalom, Antique yesterday morning. Four cops were wounded.
Prior to spraying the policemen with bullets, the rebels set off an improvised explosive device that damaged the cops’ patrol car and a private vehicle, said Chief Inspector Clark Philip Dinco, Sibalom police chief.
The rebels staged the ambush on the day that the Philippine government terminated the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“We are hereby announcing the cancellation of all planed meetings with the CPP-NPA-NDF in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive that there will be no more peace talks with them,” said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza in Metro Manila.
The four injured police officers taken to the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose, Antique.
Police Officer 3 Gabby Orantes sustained a gunshot wound in the abdomen while Police Officer 3 Michael Alejo’s hands had shrapnel wounds.
The right arm of Police Officer 3 Salvador Cordero got shot while both arms of Police Officer 1 Jonard Laguna had shrapnel wounds.
According to Dinco, the ambush was staged around 9:20 a.m. After the rebels set off the improvised explosive device they started shooting the policemen.
Policemen fired back at the rebels.
The encounter lasted for some 30 minutes, said Dinco.
It was unclear as of this writing if the rebels suffered casualties or injuries.
“We are conducting a follow-up operation,” said Dinco.
Dinco said his police station received information that armed men were in Barangay Bulalacao, Sibalom on Tuesday and harassing a detachment of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit there so he sent his men to check the area out.
Recent “tragic and violent incidents all over the country committed by the communist rebels” left the President with no other choice but to cancel the peace talks, said Dureza.
In a speech in Taguig City, Metro Manila on Tuesday, Duterte said he had “decided to cut talks with the NPAs,” adding “giyera na lang tayo (Let’s just fight it out).”
The President had repeatedly lambasted the communist rebels for continuously attacking state troops and making unreasonable demands in the peace negotiations.
Among the demands the communist leadership has made was the release of all political prisoners prior to the peace talks.
He also cited the NPA ambush of a police vehicle in the village of Tikalaan, Talakag town, Bukidnon on Nov. 9 which resulted in the death of a four-month old infant.
“Ina-ambush nila ‘yung pulis in Mindanao, tapos pati ‘yung bata na four months old, tinamaan. Kaya napundi talaga ako (They ambushed the policeman in Mindanao, killing a four-month-old baby in the process. I really lost my temper),” said Duterte.
On Saturday, Duterte also told reporters he would declare the NPA a terrorist group.
Peace negotiations were stalled in May this year following a string of attacks committed by communist rebels against state troops.
Dureza said the cancellation of peace talks was “an unfortunate development in our work for peace.”
“Never before have we all reached this far in our negotiations with them,” he said.
Talks between the Philippine government and the CPP-NPA-NDF reached fourth round, and a fifth round was being worked out when the process was stalled.
Dureza said Duterte had taken unprecedented steps and walked the so-called extra mile to bring peace, but the communist party and its armed elements have not shown reciprocity.
“There will be no peace negotiations anymore with the CPP-NPA-NDF until such time as the desired enabling environment conducive to a change in the government’s position becomes evident. We will closely watch the developments,” said Dureza. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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