• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
All police stations in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, have been required to validate all reports requiring response to avoid “bait and catch” tactics of the New People’s Army, following an encounter on Tuesday that claimed the life of a minor.
The “bait and catch” is a tactic used by local communist insurgents three years ago in Brgy. Bia-o, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, where two policemen were injured in an ambush staged by NPA rebels as the former were responding to a shooting incident that was staged in the area.
PLt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Ofice- Negros Island Region, also disclosed that police units were also instructed to ensure that all their tactical movements, should be properly coordinated with the operating Army troops.
A seven-year-old child, a Grade 1 student, was hit in the head by a stray bullet, during an encounter between Army soldiers and suspected New People’s Army rebels on Tuesday in Sitio Matil-a, Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla.
The fleeing rebels engaged in indiscriminate firing to delay the pursuing soldiers while withdrawing, hitting the minor, according to the Philippine Army.
Recovered from the encounter site were assorted foodstuff and personal belongings left behind by the fleeing rebels, as well as empty fired cartridges of M203 grenade launcher and M16 assault rifles.
All hospitals and health facilities within the area of responsibility were also placed under observation for possible admission of wounded CTG members.
Malong said that checkpoints have been conducted in strategic areas to intercept possible rebel movements, while hospitals are now being checked for potential identification of injured NPA members, following Army reports that some fleeing rebels were hurt in the gunbattle.*
