Army colonel: Be aggressive vs NPA

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Dec 21): Army colonel: Be aggressive vs NPA

COLONEL Benedict Arevalo, commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Negros Occidental, ordered his men to be aggressive in running after the members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

This came following the death of a police officer in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Wednesday, December 19.
Senior Inspector Porferio Gabuya Jr., deputy for operations of Guihulngan City Police Station, was having a coffee with a colleague when two unidentified assailants on a black motorcycle attacked him in Barangay Poblacion.

The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) is looking at the possibility that the NPA was behind the attack since the city is considered as rebel-infested area.
“Regardless if they deny it, it’s always good for the troops and police to be always alert and be security conscious at all times,” Arevalo said.

They are focusing on the NPA-perpetrated killings while the police focus on the criminalities, he added.
“I have just reminded our troops to be alert and vigilant in preventing these incidents from happening again,” Arevalo said.

“Our aggressiveness against the NPAs will be able to thwart their terroristic plans,” he added.

Norppo has yet to determine the motive of the killing and its perpetrators but they are also studying the cases handled by Gabuya particularly in illegal drugs.

Gabuya was transferred to Negros Oriental two months ago from Cebu Police Provincial Office.

Authorities are also trying to find out the reason for his relief in Cebu.

Apolinario Gaitmaitan Command (AGC) said the NPA-Negros has nothing to do with the death of Gabuya.

The AGC condemns the spate of killings under the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte and the culture of impunity perpetuated by him.

In July 2017, Superintendent Arnel Arpon, former chief of Guihulngan City Police Station, along with four personnel of the city police station were killed in an ambush perpetrated by the NPA in Barangay Magsaysay, when they responded to a call for assistance from Councilor Edison de la Rita, who was also killed by the group in Barangay Poblacion in April 2018.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1779754