One police officer was killed, while several others were injured, following a New People’s Army (NPA) attack in Maasin, Iloilo, yesterday afternoon.
According to Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6) spokesperson, Police Superintendent Gilbert Gorero, the police officers, all members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-Region VI (RPSB-6), were responding to a call from Sitio Camansi, in the municipality’s Barangay Bolo, when they found themselves under NPA fire.
Police Officer 1 (PO1) Jofer Odon was immediately killed after being shot in the head; while those injured included PO1s Vincent Ysay, Noli Talento, Rolanda Lozada, Joy Melvin Polce, Kim Aliver Coronel, Mark Paul Banquillo, Eduard Infante, Jr., Joseph Gonzales, April Rey Ansag, Kit Delihiro, and Marlon Yanson Arbuis.
Earlier this week, law enforcement was also attacked by the rebel group while responding to a call in Antique.
Police Officers 3 (PO3) Gabby Orantes, Michael Alejo, and Salvador Cordero all suffered injuries when they were struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) while a detachment of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) was under attack in Sibalom.
Back in June, nine Maasin police officers were disarmed and handcuffed after the NPA stormed the Maasin Municipal Police Station; with the rebel group carting away with firearms, radio equipment, laptop computers, cash, and a patrol vehicle.
Following the incident, a statement by the NPA’s Coronacion ‘Waling-Waling’ Chiva Command claimed town police were allegedly extorting small vendors./WDJ