Jose Percival Estocada

Command claims responsibility

A police officer was left dead following an encounter between the Philippine National Police and the New People’s Army (NPA) last Wednesday in Janiuay’s Barangay Aglobong. Authorities identified the fatality as 29-year-old Police Captain Efren Espanto of La Carlota City, who served as team leader for the Reconnaissance Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6.
According to Janiuay Municipal Police Station chief, Police Captain Dadjie Delima, the incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. and lasted for 30 minutes.
Police Captain Jerome Manahan retrieved Espanto’s remains and transported him to Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital, where he was declared dead-on-arrival after sustaining a gunshot wound to the right side of his head.
The Janiuay police chief said the NPA faction law enforcement encountered were from the Central Front Committee and Jose Percival Estocada Command Central Front Committee.
He added, there were likely insurgents killed or wounded as there were traces of blood spotted in the areas where the rebels withdrew.
Meanwhile, the Jose Percival Estocada Command yesterday released a statement claiming responsibility for the killing. In addition, they said there was nobody wounded or killed on their side./WDJ