BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
They appeared to be not taking lessons from previous incidents.
This was after two policemen responding to a shooting incident in rebel-infested Brgy. Bi-ao in Binalbagan, were recently ambushed by New People’s Army rebels, a similar strategy employed by rebels in separate-ambush slay incidents in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Candoni and Cauayan, Negros Occidental, in previous years.
PLt. Abegael Donasco, deputy spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, yesterday admitted that the shooting incident was used by NPA rebels as a “bait” in targeting policemen.
PLt. Charles Richard Casalan, deputy police chief of Binalbagan, was among those injured in the roadside bombing ambush. He was conferred with the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting by PBrig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, regional police director of Western Visayas, on February 14.
Casalan also received financial assistance from the Police Regional Office 6 for his bravery, and that of other members of the Binalbagan Police Station, in performing their duty with dedication and commitment.
Provincial Comelec Supervisor Roberto Salazar said that he was assured by PCol. Leo Pamittan, acting provincial police director of Negros Occidental, that corrective measures were already undertaken to avoid occurrence of similar incidents.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Police and other law enforcement agencies are under the supervision of Comelec during the election period.
In 2016, two policemen were killed, while two others were injured after being ambushed by NPA rebels while they were responding to a stabbing incident in Brgy. Caningay, Candoni.
A year after, six policemen were killed in an ambush perpetrated also by rebels, while responding to a reported shooting incident in Brgy. Magsaysay, Guihulngan City.
In the same year, rebels also ambushed policemen along the national highway of Cauayan town, while also going after a murder suspect.
Donasco said that all reported complaints that need immediate response of the police, especially in the hinterlands, should be thoroughly validated.
Because of the incident, police stations in the province are now in full alert status, she added.
Binalbagan was included in the list of areas of immediate concern, in relations to the May 9 elections, due to presence of New People’s Army rebels.
The Comelec reported that election areas of concerns in Negros Occidental rose to 18.
While Salazar initially identified the 12 towns and cities, he, however, refused to identity yesterday the six other local government units.
“Local government executives are very sensitive if their areas tagged as election areas of concern,” Salazar said, as he justified his move not to identify the LGUs concerned.*
