TACLOBAN
CITY, July 26 –- Two policemen were wounded when alleged members of the New
People’s Army (NPA) detonated an improvised explosive devise targeting a police
patrol car at a national road in Jiabong, Samar Wednesday noon.
PNP
regional police spokesperson Chief Insp. Ma. Bella D. Rentuaya said police
officers of Catarman, Northern Samar were heading to this city to attend a
meeting when attacked them around 12:15 p.m. in Jia-an village, Jiabong town.
Wounded
were Police Officer (PO) 1 Roan Ralph Sabanal and PO1 John Cervantes.
“We are
saddened that this incident happened. Clearly, this was part of a series of
harassment of the NPA targeting government forces in the region,” Rentuaya
said.
“I could
not say that NPA forces are getting stronger in our region because there’s no
casualty on the side of the government.”
The
police have stepped up their security plan after the Communist Party of the
Philippines asked its armed wing, the NPA, to launch “armed counteractions and
offensives” across the country.
The
violent action is a protest against the five-month extension of Martial Law in
Mindanao.
Rentuaya
confirmed that there are some reported harassment against soldiers and police
officers in the region since Sunday, but she declined to disclose details.
“Our
vulnerable police stations are being directed to always be on guard and not be
caught off-guard. They really have to be alert,” she added.
The
police have been focusing in Samar provinces because of past incidents of rebel
attacks. The remote villages in Samar have been tagged by government troops as
hotbed of the NPA. Poor road network, poverty and low level of education are
the major factors why communism thrives in Samar provinces. (Sarwell Q.
Meniano/PNA)
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