BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Binalbagan Police Station in Negros Occidental remains on high alert status in anticipation of possible retaliation from the New People’s Army who suffered four casualties in a recent encounter with Army soldiers and police troopers at the remote barangay of Santol in the municipality on July 6, provincial police spokesman PLt. Judesses Catalogo yesterday said.
The four rebel fatalities were linked by the Philippine Army to the ambush of Binalbagan policemen who responded to a shooting incident in Brgy. Bi-ao of the municipality, on February this year.
Since then, the Binalbagan police and other high risk police stations were put on alert status, to counter any threats from the New People’s Army remnants, Catalogo said.
Forty-eight troopers of the 1st and 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC) and Bacolod City Mobile Force Company (BCMFC) recently completed the 5-day Immediate Action Drill (IAD), Knowing the Enemy (KTE) and Map Reading Refresher Course, with closing ceremony held in Brgy. Gargato, Hinigaran.
The 2nd NOCPFMC troopers joined the 94th Infantry Battalion and 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company in the conduct of combat operations in the hinterlands of Binalbagan that led to an encounter with remnants of the CN2 guerilla unit (Central Negros 2) of Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros-Cebu-Siquijor-Bohol.
Catalogo said the refresher courses aimed at updating the skills and tactics of PMFC troopers, in the performance of their mandate as peacekeepers.
RECOVERED FIREARMS POLICE OWNED
Two of the four firearms recovered from New People’s Army rebels who died during an encounter in Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, turned out to be among the guns carted away by communist rebels in raids they conducted against a police station and outpost in Negros Island more than a decade ago.
In a statement, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office stressed that it was a legitimate encounter between government forces and the New People’s Army that took place in Binalbagan, contrary to rebel claims.
Based on the report of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Unit, the recovered Springfield M14 rifle was issued to PCpl. Jose Ray Bringuez, previously assigned at the Sipalay City Police Station, while the .45 caliber pistol was personally owned by PSSgt.Ranulfo Sarsaba Estrada, assigned at the Guihulngan City Police Station in Negros Oriental.
The M14 rifle was among the firearms taken by rebels after they raided a police outpost in Brgy. San Jose, Sipalay City, in April 30, 2010; while the pistol was seized by the NPA rebels who ransacked the La Libertad Police Station in Negros Oriental, on Nov. 3, 2008, according to police records.*
