BACOLOD CITY - The Mount Cansermon Command (MCC)-New People’s Army (NPA) claimed the death of a military asset in Barangay Biao, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, before staging the ambush against some policemen in the town over the weekend.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesperson of MCC-NPA, said the group admitted killing Bertito Roso Jr. on Feb. 13 for being an “intelligence asset” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The group also cited the earlier statement of Police Maj. Ellendie Rebusquillo, Binalbagan town police chief, confirming that Roso was an asset of the government forces.
Prior to the killing, Magbuelas said that they have warned Roso twice about his activity, but the latter reportedly ignored the warning.
It can be recalled that personnel of Binalbagan Municipal Police Station responded to a report on a cadaver found in the village on Feb. 13.
However, while the patrol car was on its way to the area, they were ambushed by the NPA, which later led to a brief encounter that left two police officers and a 15-year-old bystander wounded.
The NPA, in a press statement released the following day, claimed the ambush on the policemen.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO) here raised its alert status from heightened to full alert.
In a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 15, Lt. Abegael Donasco, NOCPPO public information officer, said they do not want a repeat of the incident that used an innocent civilian as a bait to lure the police.
Donasco said that all policemen were directed to verify any information first before responding.
Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas, visited Police Lt. Charles Richard Casalan, deputy police chief of Binalbagan Municipal Police Station, who is confined in a hospital here, after he was severely wounded in the encounter.
Dongbo awarded Casalan with a “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting" for his bravery in the performance of his duty. He was also given cash assistance by the regional headquarters.
Dongbo also commended the bravery of the members of the police station in performing their duty with dedication and commitment.