• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
In recognition of their bravery and courage, the Police Regional Office 6 conferred medals and extended cash assistance to the slain and injured policemen who were ambushed by New People’s Army rebels on August 9 in Brgy. Minapasuk, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
The Medalya ng Kadakilaan (posthumous) was conferred by no less than PBrig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor, regional police director of Western Visayas, to PCpl. Jaime Nuñez, who was killed in police operation (KIPO).
Villaflor also turned over an initial P100,000 cash assistance to family of Nuñez, whose wake he visited in Cadiz City on Aug. 12.
Nuñez died in an ambush staged by the NPA which also caused the injuries to two other policemen from the Calatrava Police Station.
Villaflor also awarded the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting to PCapt. Jesus Alba, deputy police chief of Calatrava and Cpl. Dennis Nasis, who were both injured in a gunbattle with rebels during the ambush.
The injured police personnel also received an initial cash assistance of P50,000 each from the PRO 6.
On the other hand, the two civilians identified as Felix Resotay and Eliseo Mahilu, who were both killed by rebels in front of their family members, prior to the staging of the ambush on policemen who responded to the incident, were buried on Aug. 11.
Following the burial, the 79th Infantry Battalion, in coordination with the Local Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, held a localized peace engagement with residents of Brgy. Minapasuk, including residents of Sitio Icogan, where the summary execution of the two civilians took place.
In a statement, the 79IB strongly debunked rebel claims that the two innocent civilians are military informants.*
