BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A police officer, reported missing during an encounter with the New People’s Army on Dec. 7, was found dead at Purok 5 in Barangay Laga-an in Calatrava, Negros Occidental yesterday.
SM/Sgt. Rommel Aguilar was among the members of the 1st Negros Occidental Police Provincial Mobile Force Company dispatched to serve an arrest warrant in the town’s Barangay Menchaca, according to Lt. Col. Joem Malong, Negros Island region police spokesman.
Malong said the troopers encountered six rebels, which resulted in a gunfight. During the engagement, Aguilar was separated from other police officers.
Residents told investigators that Aguilar sought their help, but was shot by rebels who followed him.
According to Malong, the rebel group also shot dead a 58-year-old farmer in Sitio Tagda in Barangay Dolis on the same day.