New People’s Army rebels on Monday and Tuesday launched separate attacks on security forces in Luzon and the Visayas leaving four policemen and a civilian wounded ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Dec. 26.
The attacks took place in the provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, and Capiz Monday night targeting police outposts and a civilian auxiliary detachment.
Supt. Alejandro Monge II, public information officer, said the Magallanes Municipal Police Station was harassed by 16 NPA rebels at 7:30 p.m.
Sr. Insp. Jose Arnel Geronga, Magallanes Chief of Police said the rebels positioned themselves at the front and back portion of the police station, but failed to enter the station as policemen engaged them in a gunfight.
The exchange of fire also wounded a civilian bystander who was taken to the Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital where he is now in stable condition.
Geronga identified wounded policemen as Police Officers 1 Rolan Geul, Sonny Son Estera and Melvin Bartolata.
In Bula, Camarines Sur, an undetermined number of rebels attacked the detachment of the 501st Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 5 in Brgy. Panoypoyan, wounding P01 Francis Santiago in the left foot.
In Bato town, another group of NPA rebels attacked an army civilian volunteer group situated near the Maharlika Highway at 8 p.m. No casualties were reported.
In Capiz, rebels fired at army detachments in two villages in Tapaz town at about 1 a.m. sparking fighting with no casualties reported on both sides.
Newly installed Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal belittled the NPA attacks, saying they were staged for propaganda purposes to show they are still a force to be reckoned with.
But the latest NPA attacks prompted PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde to raise the alert level among policemen particularly those posted in remote villages.
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