PNP pursues Reds who hurt 2 cops in Iloilo

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 26, 2021): PNP pursues Reds who hurt 2 cops in Iloilo (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Tuesday directed the Iloilo police to conduct follow-up operations against the communist terrorists behind the bomb attack that injured two police officers during an encounter in the province.

“The NPA (New People's Army) attack that resulted in the wounding of two of our policemen is certainly a strategy being employed to make it appear that they are still strong and eventually use as a leverage for their extortion activities to candidates for the next year’s elections,” PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar identified the injured policemen as Pat. Jessie Castamado and Cpl. Genel Simpas.

Initial reports indicated that personnel from the Iloilo Police Mobile Force Company were harassed by members of the NPA's Southern Front Komite, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay at their base area in Barangay Mayang in the town of Tubungan on Sunday afternoon.

The local police then pursued the communist terrorists which resulted in an encounter where they detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that injured Castamado and Simpas.

The number of casualties among the rebels following the seven-minute firefight has yet to be determined.

The two police officers were taken to the Rep. Pedro Trono Memorial District Hospital for treatment. They are already in stable condition.

Eleazar, meanwhile, vowed that the organization would extend all forms of assistance to the injured personnel.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1157787