More cops, soldiers deployed to Mindoro to battle NPA rebs

Police and military have deployed additional forces on the island of Mindoro, following an intense gun battle between Army troopers and communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro province.

Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Luis Licup, regional director of the MIMAROPA (Mindoro Occidental and Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) police, said he also directed the two provincial directors of the two Mindoro provinces to conduct checkpoints and chokepoints to contain the movement of the fleeing rebels.

“I also directed them to conduct monitoring of all hospitals and clinics in their respective areas of jurisdiction to check on the possible presence of wounded communist rebels,” said Licup.

The official’s order came following the gun battle between elements of the 76th Infantry Battalion and some 40 communist rebels in Sitio Kamambugan, Barangay Pinagturilan in Sta. Cruz town at around 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

The firefight lasted for 15 minutes, with the rebels seen running away from the encounter site.

Seized during the clearing operations were the upper receiver of an M-16 rifle, a 9mm pistol, a .38 revolver and an improvised explosive device (IED).

Licup said the intense gunfight has led them to believe that there were casualties on the communist rebel side. There were no casualties on the government side.

“We want to block the supply of logistics and ammunition to the enemies, the reason why checkpoints and similar operations are important,” said Licup.