Government security forces killed a suspected communist rebel in a continuing massive flush out drive against local insurgents operating in the Mindoro provinces that has also left three policemen dead in the past few days.
At least six encounters have been recorded in Mindoro provinces since Feb. 21, excluding the rebel attack on a project site of a hydro power plant in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 25.
Police Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, Philippine National Police Region 4-B (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan area) spokesman, said the slain communist rebel was abandoned by his companions
after the encounter in Barangay Waygan, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro at around 5 a.m. yesterday.
Both the police and the military have stepped up the offensive against the communist rebels after the Feb. 21 clash in Barangay Sta. Teresita in Mansalay.
The gunfight erupted as the government declared on the same day that the nearby island province of Romblon is free from communist rebels.
On Feb. 23, police and military forces clashed with the New People’s Army three times near the boundary of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
One of the three gunfights resulted in the death of two cops – Police Master Sgt. Bonifacio Tayuco and Police Senior Master Sgt. Raymundo Robles.
On Feb. 25, a band of communist rebels pretended to be Army troopers to gain entry to a hydroelectric power plant project site in Naujan. They burned a dozen heavy equipment, warehouse for construction materials, and offices inside the project site.
On Feb. 28, Police Staff Sgt. Edwin Encarnacion died in a clash with rebels in Barangay Malamig, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro in which a policeman was wounded.
The 4,000-strong NPA has been waging almost five decades of armed struggle against the government. It further intensified the attacks after the peace talks with the Duterte administration bogged down. (Aaron Recuenco)
