Cop killed, 8 hurt in Tadian NPA ambush

PNP officer slain, one hurt in earlier Bauko encounter 

TADIAN, Mountain Province -- The Leonardo Pacsi Command of the New People’s Army based in the Province ambushed a joint unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police 2:30 p.m. Tuesday here at Mt. Komilat in Tadian resulting to one dead and 18 injured from the government side, according to a LPC-NPA statement.

In recognition to the courageous actions and bravery of the 10 police officers who were wounded and killed during clashes against the members of the NPA, regional police director Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim T. Dickson personally bestowed awards April 3  at the

Luis Hora Regional Memorial Hospital at Abatan, Bauko while being treated and recuperating from shrapnel wounds.

The PNP wounded personnel edal or Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting was awarded to nine police officers wounded in police operation, namely: Pat Erwin Calixto; Corporals Marcelo Bayeng, Ramadick Meloy, Clifford Gama, Edwin Keya, John Calcaligong, Terence L Dulnuan; Senior Sgt Salvador Agalatiw and Master Sgt Alphedes Alvaro.

On the other hand, the PNP heroism medal or Medalya ng Kadakilaan was e posthumously awarded to Cpl. Marloun T Casil who was killed in action.

The remains of Casil was brought home by his relatives to his residence in Kibungan, Benguet.

Cordillera police spokesperson Maj. Carolina Lacuata said an improvised explosive device (IED) killed Casil and wounded those who were awarded.

Initial financial assistance from Dickson was also given to wounded personnel to help defray their hospital expenses, and to bereaved family of Casil, while other benefits from the PNP and other agencies are being processed.

Elements of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 15 under the 1502nd Maneuverer Company were reportedly pursuing the NPA guerillas when they stepped on IEDs planted by withdrawing rebels.

Lt. Col. Narciso B. Nabulneg Jr., commanding officer of the 54th IB said the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) of the communist group was under Simon Naogsan aka Filiw, reportedly the secretary and spokesperson. 

“The LPC-NPA had been launching continuous tactical offensives against operating troops of the AFP and PNP since last week. This is in contrary to statements being released by the military that the April 2 clash was merely an improvised explosive device left by a unit of the LPC in the said area,” the LPC said in a statement.

“The AFP and PNP have been doing pursuit operations since a unit of the RPSB was harassed by a unit of the LPC last March 30. But the LPC has foiled their plans time and time again. In the April 2 ambush, a command detonated explosive was used by a unit of the LPC against joint operating troops from Camp Dangwa and a unit of the Special Action Force (SAF) wherein one officer was killed while eight others were wounded. This is no violation of any rules of war as the NPA had complete control of the explosives, unlike landmines which can detonate anytime regardless of whoever steps on it.”

Communist rebels said in the statement said they have retreated even as government forces are now scouring adjacent areas to hunt the guerrillas. Residents reported gunfire every now and then.

This, after a police officer was killed while another was injured when cops encountered around 20 NPA guerillas in nearby Bauko town on March 29,  the 50th anniversary of the communist group.

A police report from the Cordillera Police Regional Office identified the slain cop in the March 29 encounter as Pat. Wilfredo Padawil, a member of the 1502nd Mobile Company, Regional Mobile Force-15 in Cordillera region and native of Sagada, Mountain  Province.

Injured in the Bauko encounter was Cpl. Eirphil Lapniten

On March 30. Police General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police chief, went to the Benguet General Hospital to visit Lapniten.

Investigation disclosed that elements of the 1502nd Mobile Company, Regional Mobile Force-15 led by Police Captain Le Veonn Madalang and Capt Graeme Boy Javier were conducting patrol operations in Sitio Malabagan, Barangay Bangnen around 9:30 a.m. when they chanced upon the heavily-armed men.

The casualty count on the NPA side has yet to be confirmed but Albayalde said ground reports indicated troops found trails of blood at the encounter site. The NPA did not disclose if there were casualties on their side.

Lapniten received the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting from Albayalde.

Lapniten recalled his experience during the encounter.

According to Lapniten, they were already positioned in a secluded area in Sitio Malabagan after patrol operations.

The unit received intelligence information that the NPAs will pass through the area so they waited for them.

“Ang nangyari, nagkagulatan kami. Mga 300 meters ang layo nila sa amin tapos nagkasabayan na ng putok (What happened was that we were both surprised. They were about 300 meters from us and then we both fired shots at the same time),” Lapniten said.

“Ang tumama sa akin sa tingin ko nagsnipe (What hit me, I think, was a sniper),” he added. He was hit in the left portion of his neck.

Padawil, on the other hand, was hit in the right portion of his neck. The bullet exited his left hip, suggesting the NPAs were at higher ground.

Lapniten said he is eager to heal quickly so that he can go back to the field and serve the country.

Both families of Padawil and Lapniten are expected to receive monetary assistance from the Office of the Chief PNP.

Albayalde said all due benefits for cops killed or wounded in action will be given.

Meanwhile, the NPA said in a statement the attack was the rebel group’s "response to the directive of the National Operational Command of the NPA to launch military actions nationwide as part of the celebrations of the NPA’s 50th year anniversary."

Magno Udiao, spokesman of the Mountain Province-based Leonardo Pacsi Command said communist guerillas “engaged” a unit of the Regional Public Safety Battalion for about 15 minutes.

Udiao described the RPSB as a police unit “specifically intended for counterinsurgency" and is used "as a machinery to silence the people's resistance and also enforce national oppression on the national minorities including the Igorots of the Cordillera."

Mountain Province rebels said the RPSB "carries this mission in the guise of protecting the environment and national interest." 

They also said "the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources in cahoots with these mercenary troops have been enforcing a total log ban policy and the crackdown on small-scale mines (while) they protect plunderous large-scale mines, logging, and energy businesses."

Udiao said the indigenous people “have inherent rights to their ancestral lands and its resources including the trees, the minerals, and the waters.”