• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Roselyn Jean Pelle Command – New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) has claimed the death of PSMS Rommel Aguilar of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC), who was reportedly abducted and was found dead hours later on December 7.
Rebels said that upon abduction, they opened the unlocked smartphone of the police officer and “uncovered the extent of police counter-insurgency intelligence networks in Escalante City and the towns of Toboso and Calatrava, all in Negros Occidental.”
The NPA added in their released statement that the classified information Aguilar’s device contained identified key assets and provided the list of their paid informants.
“Aguilar also worked as chief handler of all police counter-insurgency intelligence operatives, assets, and informants in the areas. Many of his assets were former NPA members turned traitors and counterrevolutionary agents,” rebels emphasized in a statement.
On 10:50 a.m. of Sunday, December 7, personnel of the 1st NOCPMFC encountered an unidentified number of armed men while conducting service of a warrant operation in Barangay Menchaca. The armed group opened fire, resulting in a brief firefight.
During the encounter, troops were forced to disperse due to hostile fire and challenging terrain. It was then that Aguilar, of the 3rd Maneuver Platoon, 1st NOCPMFC, was reported missing.
At around 12:30 p.m. Calatrava PNP received a report that a dead body was found at Purok 5, Brgy. Laga-an, who was later confirmed to be Aguilar.
The bereaved family of Aguilar and the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) buried him on December 13.
A 21-gun salute was offered to honor his bravery and commitment to law enforcement after he died in the line of duty.*
