ILOILO CITY—Police in two towns of Iloilo province were unharmed after gun-toting suspects fired at them in two separate operations last Saturday, April 12.
POLICE engaged a suspected communist rebel in San Joaquin town, Iloilo province last April 12, 2025. (Radyo Todo Iloilo)
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) reported that lawmen in the towns of San Joaquin and Pavia eventually subdued the suspects without police injured although one of the suspects were hurt.
The first shooting incident occurred in San Joaquin.
Police served warrants of arrest for murder and illegal possession of firearms against a suspect identified as Jun, a native of Maasin town who is said to be a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RBA-ABB), the breakaway group of the New People’s Army (NPA).
A team was assigned to track down Jun, who was the eighth most wanted person in Western Visayas region.
The team composed of the IPPO 1st Iloilo Provincial Mobile Force Company and Municipal Police Stations (MPS) of Maasin and San Joaquin encountered gunfire from a group of armed men in Barangay Jawod.
On the other hand, a suspect alias “Nonoy” opened fire at responding policemen in Barangay Balabag, Pavia town.
Police returned fire and Nonoy was wounded in the right arm. Nonoy was reported by his neighbors to lawmen for indiscriminately firing his gun.
IPPO chief Police Col. Bayani Razalan lauded operating units for their achievements.
“I want to take a moment to commend the unwavering bravery, courage, and dedication of our operating teams,” said Razalan.