269 soldiers, cops killed during campaign period

New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed a total of 148 military personnel and 121 policemen in their intensified offensive operations during the six month election campaign period.

In the same period — from Dec. 15 to June 9 — 285 NPA guerrillas were killed by Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, including 41 killed in government-initiated operations, PNP spokesman Joel Goltiao said yesterday.

Out of the 269 NPA-related violence, Goltiao said 128 incidents were initiated by the rebel group and 121 by the government.

A total of 159 rebels have surrendered, 85 arrested and 40 wounded, according to records culled by the PNP directorate for operations under Director Avelino Razon.

Goltiao blamed the NPA — the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) — for 45 liquidation operations, a majority of which victimized politicians running for local .

Elections in the Philippines are often marred by violence arising from communist insurgents who extort money from candidates and armed followers of local political warlords.

NPA guerrillas have also been known to ambush police officers as part of their Maoist campaign in spite of ongoing efforts to pursue the peace process between government and the National Democratic Front, the CPP’s political wing.

Police also tagged the NPA behind 121 encounters with government troops, 19 ambuscades, 13 raids and attacks, 23 harassment cases and 11 incidents of disarming lawmen.

Following last Saturday’s killing of two policemen in a communist attack in Aurora province, Goltiao said PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has reminded policemen nationwide of the PNP’s intensified internal security campaign against the rebels.

Ebdane has ordered an investigation into the attack in Dipaculao, Aurora that killed Senior Police Officers 1 Castor Gomez and Roberto Bautista.

Gomez and Bautista’s families will receive benefits provided to policemen slain in duty. Goltiao said the PNP is awaiting the recommendation of the provincial director whether the two policemen will be awarded medals for heroism.

In another development, another clash erupted between the NPA and government troops Saturday morning in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental resulting in the death of S/Sgt. Renato Aguilar and another rebel.

Police reports identified the injured soldiers as Pfc. Melchor Yunting and Pvt. Wilbert Juara. The slain rebel was not yet identified as of yesterday.

Soldiers belonging to the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion encountered some 70 heavily armed rebels in Barangay Tacpao, Guihulngan at about 5 a.m. yesterday. The firefight lasted for almost three hours.

Recovered from the encounter site were an M-14 rifle, a Honda power generator, a computer set with printer, medical equipment, maps and subversive documents and other personal belongings.

Aguilar’s remains were airlifted to the 303th Brigade headquarters at Mucia, Negros Occidental while the two wounded soldiers were brought to the Riverside Medical Center for treatment. — By Christina Mendez