By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
POLICE regional director Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb over the weekend denounced the New People’s Army over Thursday night’s ambush that killed a four-month old infant and a policeman in Talakag town in Bukinon.
Pacleb lashed out at the NPA even as the spokesperson the rebel group’s northcentral command, Ka Malem Mabini, confirmed that Maoist guerrillas staged the ambush on the road in Kilometer 28 in Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag town on Thursday night.
Mabini said the ambush was carried out by rebels under the NPA’s Mt. Kitanglad subegional command on the Ticalaan-Dominorog road.
The targets, he said, were the police chief of Bumbaran (the old name of Amai Manabilang town) in Lanao del Sur and his men.
“From the initial report received from the territorial command of the NPA-MK-SRC, the chief of police and four of his subordinates were wounded in action [and] were stripped of their firearms afterwards,” he said.
Mabini said his group was also looking into reports that three civilians were hurt.
“As of this writing, the NPA-NCMR awaits the comprehensive report from the field unit responsible for launching the said action,” reads part of a NPA statement over the weekend.
Authorities said the ambush killed a four-month old infant identified as Machorao Malysha who was hit by a bullet on the forehead, and SPO3 Arnel Carillo who was declared dead on arrival at a hospital.
Officials said civilians Alexander Maniscan, Sittie Ali, 53, and Ali Aminsalam were wounded and rushed to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro.
The town police chief, Insp. Joven Penon Acuesta, SPO1 Pacifico Cabudoy and PO1 Nathaniel Ibal also sustained gunshot wounds.
Chief Supt. Pacleb condemned what he called as a NPA atrocity in Talakag.
“The recent attack shows that their claimed ideology of being pro-people or pro-poor is a farce,” he said.
Pacleb said the police would pursue the investigation into the ambush and hold the attackers responsible for the “criminal act.”
He said the ambush only strengthened the National Police and Armed Forces’ resolve in performing their mandated tasks and duties.
“The public is encouraged to join hands with the PNP and AFP in tracking down the insurgents who carried out the ambush,” he said.
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