BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Four personnel of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion in Central Visayas were reportedly killed by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Ayungon, Negros Oriental on Thursday.
Cpl. Relebert Beronio and Patrolmen Raffy Callo, Roel Cabellon and Marquino de Leon were on three motorcycles when they were attacked in Sitio Ilaya Yamot, Barangay Mabato, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, said.
They were reportely hogtied before they were shot. The throat of one of the police officers was allegedly slashed.
Sinas said the rebels also took the service firearms of the police officers.
Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, said the incident could be in retaliation for the killing of an NPA leader in an encounter with soldiers on Friday last week.
In Agusan del Sur, soldiers seized an NPA camp following an encounter in Prosperidad on Tuesday.
Soldiers recovered an M60 machinegun, three caliber .45 pistols, a fragmentation grenade, various types of ammunition and other war materiel at the scene, Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, 3rd Special Forces Battalion commander, said. – With Ben Serrano, Romina Cabrera