Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr, acting chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered an intensified manhunt against members of the New People’s Army (NPA) responsible for the killing of a police officer and a civilian in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
He was referring to the clash between members of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company and the communist rebels on Dec. 7 which resulted in the death of Police Senior Master Sergeant Rommel Aguilar.
According to police, members of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company were conducting an operation against a wanted person when six armed men reportedly opened fire at them, resulting in a brief firefight.
The troops were forced to disperse due to hostile fire and challenging terrain. After the firefight, Aguilar’s body was found. Also killed was civilian Mando Ugdiman, 58, who was preparing for Sunday Mass.
“The Philippine National Police (PNP) extends its deepest condolences to the family of one of our personnel and the civilian who lost their lives in this attack,” said Nartatez.
“We deployed additional forces to hunt down those responsible for and we are also collating pieces of evidence for a case-build against them,” he added.
Nartatez emphasized that the PNP remains committed to supporting the family of the fallen officer. (Aaron Recuenco)
