LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Three policemen were reportedly slain by communist rebels in fresh clashes in remote Asipulo town in Ifugao on Friday morning.
Policemen from the Regional Public Safety Batallion in Ifugao and Benguet fought an undetermined number of New People's Army guerillas at around 7:25 a.m. in Sitio Nangkatinge, Brgy. Namal, Asipulo resulting to the death of three policemen and the wounding of three more.
Another policeman was reported missing by his commander, hence being treated as “unaccounted†by authorities as of press time.
The missing policeman might have been taken by rebels as a “prisoner-of-warâ€.
Supt. Dave Limmong of the Cordillera police information office begged off to name the killed and wounded policemen including the unaccounted policeman because their families have not been informed yet.
Minutes before noon, Philippine Army troopers who came to aid the policemen fighting the rebels flew the killed policeman and those wounded to the Ifugao provincial hospital.
The fatalities were also brought to the hospital.
Though earlier declared by authorities as “rebel-freeâ€, the CPP-NPA’s Nona del Rosario Command in Ifugao claims its number is growing, even launching bold attacks against government forces in the past.
Almost a year ago, 11 Philippine Army troopers were killed including an officer in an ambuscade by rebels.