LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines (PNA) -- Violence erupted anew in Masbate after two civilians were killed while responding policemen were ambushed on Sunday by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Espinosa in Milagros town in Masbate, an officer of the Philippine Army said Monday.

Killed were Eduardo Aldana, 48, and Allan Alarcon, 38, both of Brgy. Cabitan, Mandaon, Masbate, said Army Maj. Angelo Guzman, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson.

Guzman said the victims were on their way home on board a “habal habal” when they were attacked with high powered assault rifles killing Aldana on the spot while Alarcon, the habal habal driver, was rushed by responding villagers to De Castro Hospital in Malagros but was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

The responding policemen from the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Masbate investigating the incident were subsequently ambushed by about five NPA rebels while on their way back to Milagros Municipal Police Station at about 3:40 p.m. in the same village.

No casualty was reported on the part of the government law enforcers as they were able to immediately retaliate against the attacking rebels who immediately retreated. Only damages to the patrol vehicle were reported by the police.

Army Lt. Col Julian Pacatan, commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion, immediately deployed reinforcements to possible NPA routes of withdrawal.

Pursuit operations from joint elements of the 49th IB and PNP-Masbate is still ongoing.

Pacatan said the attack on the civilians and subsequent ambush of reinforcing units are typical NPA offensive strategy in retaliation to the arrest of Sofronio Narrido, a suspected CPP/NPA extortion money collector in the area on Tuesday.

Narrido is presently detained at the Masbate Provincial Police Office.

Col. Felix Castro, commanding officer of 903B based in Sorsogon, directed 9IB to coordinate with PNP-Masbate for further investigation on the incidents and for intensified security operations in Masbate.

Army M/Gen. Josue Gaverza Jr. commanding general of the 9th Infantry Division, denounced the killing of the two civilians by the NPA rebels as he directed his brigade commanders to step up internal security operations against the waning communist guerrillas.

Military statistics indicate that for April, NPA rebel attacks already killed four innocent lives, including an eight-year-old girl in Casiguran, Sorsogon last April 3. (PNA)