According to Chief Insp. Armelyn Vargas, Region 18 spokesperson, the encounter happened at around 10AM at Sitio Magtiid, Barangay Magsaysay.
Among the killed police officers is Guihulngan chief of police, Supt. Arnel Arpon. Also included in the slain police officers are Senior Police Officer 2 Necasio Tabilon, Police Officer 3 Jordan Balderas, Police Officer 2 Alvin Paul Bulandres, Police Officer 2 Alfred Dunque, and Police Officer 1 Abines Silvano.
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| Photo from Tely Regala Aba |
According to reports, the police officers responded to a call of help at around 9:45AM of Friday that Sangguniang Bayan 9SB) member Edison dela Risa was ambushed by suspected NPA members in Barangay Magsaysay.
Supt. Arpon immediately went to the said site of ambush of the SB member, together with 15 police officers that compose a team. They were aboard a police patrol car and three motorcycles.
However, on their way there, they were ambushed by suspected NPA members who fired towards them.
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| Photo from Tely Regala Aba |
The police officers were reported to have attempted to exchange gunfire with the alleged NPA members but failed to do so as they were outnumbered by their opponents who were heavily armed.
This recent attack happened the same day President Duterte stated that he and his administration would not 'waste his time' to talk with the CPP-NPA-NDF groups. The president also announced that the peace negotiations between the government and the reds will not resume.
"I will not talk to them. They killed many of my soldiers. They killed many of my policemen," President Duterte stated.
On Wednesday also, members of the Presidential Security Group were ambushed in Cotabato by alleged NPA members, as well. One CAFGU member was shot dead during that encounter who was believed to be planned and intentional.
The CPP then released a statement in defense of the Wednesday encounter, saying that the NPA members had put up a check point in Cotabato and the convoy of the PSGs did not heed to the check point, thus the NPA members fired on them.
In the same statement, the CPP said that the NPA members on the check point were unaware that the passengers of the convoy were PSGs, which they realized only later.
President Duterte warned the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stay alert and vigilant because they may be the next victims of ambush and surprise encounters of the NPA members.
"I gave you sidearms. Be alert because NPA will really kill you," the President added.
Furthermore, Capt. Eduardo Precioso of the 3rd Infantry Division said that the 79th Infantry Battalion is now operating to pursue the suspected members of the NPA involved in the said ambush.
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