BUTUAN CITY – A policeman belonging to the 2nd Surigao del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company (2SDSPMFC) was killed in an encounter with the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Buenavista, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, on Monday morning.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., Police Regional Office Caraga (PRO-13) director, said the 2SDSPMFC personnel were conducting a minor combat operation in the area when they encountered around five NPA rebels, triggering a five-minute firefight.
Caramat identified the slain policeman as Pat. Jennis Mark Encinas.
“Close coordination with friendly forces was already conducted while the neighboring stations were also alerted for possible interception of the fleeing suspects,” Caramat said.
He said a second encounter took place against the same band of rebels at around 10 a.m on the same day in the hinterlands of Barangay Buenavista.
“The same troopers from the 2SDSPMFC encountered an undetermined number of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) under an unknown leader,” Caramat said, adding the rebels fled after the 10-minute firefight.
Col. James T. Goforth, director of Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO), told Philippine News Agency Monday afternoon that pursuit operation is still ongoing in the area as NPA rebels fled after the second encounter. (PNA)
