CEBU, Philippines — Another ranking police officer from Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental was gunned down in broad daylight by alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA).
Senior Inspector Porferio Gabuya Jr., the deputy chief of Guihulngan City Police Station, was eating in a carenderia in front of their police station in Barangay Poblacion, Guihulngan City at around 10:25 a.m. when motorcycle-riding men fired at him.
Gabuya was rushed to the Guihulngan District Hospital but did not make it alive. He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.
This is the second attack that killed a police officer from Guihulngan.
Last year, the former Guihulngan police station head, Superintendent Arnel Arpon, was also ambushed by alleged NPA members.
Police Regional Office-7 Director Debold Sinas said that the recent attacks meant war against the government.
"This means war gyud, mao na niana si President dungagan gyud og tawo didto," Sinas said.
Sinas said that cops in Negros Oriental received a text message reportedly claiming the incident was perpetrated by NPAs.
Sinas, however, opted not to disclose the full contents of the text message as it may sow unnecessary terror and panic.
Guihulngan City Police Station Chief Christopher Navida said they received information of armed persons who have entered Guihulngan earlier this week, which prompted them to conduct intensified checkpoints in strategic areas.
At past 7 a.m. yesterday, they got another piece of information of an ambulance reportedly ferrying firearms and some suspicious personalities.
However, when Gabuya and his team checked, the passengers were able to present documents and identification cards. There was also no firearm in the vehicle.
After this, Navida led a briefing to remind cops to be cautious.
Gabuya’s team then decided to go the marketplace to man the police assistance desk.
However, Gabuya opted to go to the carenderia fronting the Guihulngan police station while still wearing his uniform.
It is the place where cops usually drink coffee.
At 10:25 a.m., two men riding a motorcycle passed by and shot the victims multiple times.
The assailants reportedly fled to the neighboring town of La Libertad.
"Sa La Libertad nidiretso ang assailants, so karon amo gialarmahan ang La Libertad to go there and conduct checkpoint," Sinas said.
Navida added that witnesses saw the assailants park around the area moments before the shooting and that the gunman used his shirt to cover his face.
Navida assured that the police will continue to fight insurgency and will not let the incident affect their morale.
Sinas, who granted the interview during the Cebu Provincial Police Office’s Christmas Party, said he is going to Negros Oriental to assess the situation and check the cops.
He said that Gabuya’s remains will be shipped to Cebu City.
Gabuya joined the police service in 2008 and was a former SWAT member of the Cebu City Police Office. Gabuya is a native of Biliran, Leyte.
Sinas assured that the PRO-7 is already coordinating with other intelligence communities and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Major General Noel Clement, the newly-installed commander of the AFP Central Command, said the recent attack indicates that members of the Communist Party of the Philippines New People's Army (CPP-NPA) are terrorists or referred now as CNTs.
He said that forces will be doubled to prevent CNTs from conducting any attack against them. — GAN (FREEMAN)