3 cops wounded in firefight against NPA
Three police officers from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) Region 13 were wounded after they clashed with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the town of Carmen, Agusan del Norte at around 1:30 in the morning, Wednesday, August 2, 2017.
“Three of our police officers from the RPSB-13 were wounded after they encountered an undetermined number of NPA rebels at around 1:30 in the morning along the hinterland area in Barangay Poblacion in the town of Carmen in Agusan del Norte,” said Police Superintendent Martin Gamba, Public Information Officer of the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO-13).
Gamba identified the wounded police officers as PO1 Ricky Arcite, who was wounded at his right shoulder, right part of the abdominal area and the left finger; PO1 Joemar Guiral, 30-years-old, who was injured on his left leg; and 31-years-old PO1 Damilo Valenzuela who was wounded on his left arm.
The policemen were part of RPSB-13 who were conducting operations against the rebels along with the Agusan del Norte Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) and elements of the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion.
The joint operation is currently underway after the NPA under the Guerilla Front 4A, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) harassed the patrol base of 1st Platoon, 1st Maneuver Company of the RPSB-13 stationed in Barangay Tagcatong, Carmen last Monday.
A police report from the Municipal police office of Carmen in Agusan del Norte said the clash transpired on July 31, 2017 at around 10:00AM in the vicinity of Marcos Park, Brgy Tagcatong, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
The firefight lasted for about 55 minutes with no reported casualties on the government side and an undetermined number of wounded or killed on the enemy side.
During the encounter, around 30-armed men conducted roadblock on the National Highway of Barangay Rojales, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
Police Chief Superintendent Rolando Felix, Regional Director of PRO-13 pointed out that they have traced the presence and movement of the fleeing NPA rebels and that their forces will continue with the pursuit operations while hardening possible NPA targets and intensifying it’s intelligence gather on possible movement of the rebel group.