Responding policemen claimed that there were seven casualties on the rebels’ side but only two bodies were recovered so far from the scene of the encounter. Meanwhile, the civilian victim, identified as Dading Aninza, 67, reportedly died of cardiac arrest during the ensuing firefight.
Two other members of the Zambales Provincial Police Office (ZPPO) Special Action Force (SAF), including its team leader were also wounded during the five-hour running gunbattle which reportedly started shortly after lunch in sitio Pulang Lupa, Cauyan, Palauig.
Police Senior Superintendent Wilson Victorio, ZPPO Director, identified those killed as Policemen Alfredo Diaboco and Zainudin Iskak while seriously wounded were Police Inspector Jerry Corpuz and PO1 Michael Cantil of the elite PNP SAF.
The identities of the slain rebels have yet to be determined but their bodies are now at Bartolome Funeral Parlor in Palauig town .
Victorio said a 30-minute firefight between members of the PNP SAF and the 314th Provincial Mobile Group and some 20 heavily-armed rebels led by a certain Ka Miguel took place at around 11 a.m. on Friday.