BACOLOD CITY -- The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here has joined the condemnation of the killing of the four policemen by the New People’s Army (NPA) in neighboring Negros Oriental on Thursday.
Col. Romeo Baleros, police provincial director, denounced on Friday what he called the barbaric and inhumane acts of the communist-terrorist group, and expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of their comrades.
He also called on the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to stop the senseless killings.
Around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, PCpl. Relebert Beronio, Pat. Raffy Callao, Pat. Roel Cabellon, and Pat. Marquino de Leon of the 704th Mobile Force Company of the 7th Regional Mobile Force Battalion were taken and summarily executed by communist rebels in Sitio Yamot, Barangay Mabato in Ayungon town.
The four were on their way to the detachment at Sitio Nabinca when they were abducted by a group of NPA rebels. They were shot several times.
Baleros appealed for support from the Negrenses in the police’s combat operations against the communist-terrorist group.
“These terrorists, who have nothing in mind but to create fear among the populace, must heed to the call to stop on this senseless loss of lives which would only result in grief and sorrow,” the provincial police chief added.
The ambush of the policemen came five days after an NPA fighter was killed during the rebels’ encounter with troops of the 62nd Infantry Battalion at the border of Carol-an, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental and Upper Carol-an, also in Ayungon.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
