CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro -- Three members of the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police were wounded in an encounter with an undetermined number of New People’s Army rebels in Bongabong town on Thursday morning, June 9.
The identities of the wounded SAF members were withheld as the PNP has yet to inform first their respective families before their names are released under the PNP protocol.
The top official of PNP-SAF, Maj. Gen. Patrick Villacorte together with Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento, acting commander of Area Police Command-Southern Luzon (APC-SL) and Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia, regional director of Police Regional Office-MIMAROPA (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) immediately visited the wounded policemen in an undisclosed hospital in Mindoro where they were given award of recognition for their gallantry in action in the campaign against the communist armed group.
Brig. Gen. Hernia said the SAF men were also given financial assistance.
Hernia said the SAF personnel were in Barangay Malitbog, Bongabong as part of their security operations against the rebels who, according to some local dwellers, were engaged in extortion and harassment activities.
Insurgency remains active in southern Mindoro but the Armed Forces of the Philippines said their numbers are dwindling because of unrelenting military operations and surrender of most key NPA cadres.