Preemptive evacuation ordered in 3 Mt. Province villages after series of PNP-NPA clashes

BAGUIO CITY — Local officials in Bauko, Mountain Province have ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents in at least three communities following the series of clashes between the police and communist rebels there.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Bauko town has asked residents in the sub-villages of Cotcot, Luagan, and Malupa to temporarily seek shelter at the town’s multipurpose function hall as government troops launched a pursuit operation against the rebels.

Police and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have been engaging in gunfights since March 29 in the forested area bordering the towns of Bauko and Tadian.

The latest clash took place on Tuesday, killing Cpl. Marlon Casil and wounding eight of his companions, according to Police Regional Office Cordillera Spokesman Maj. Carolina Lacuata.

Wounded from the government troops were Corporals Marcelo Bayeng, Ramadick Meloy, Clifford Gama, Edwin Keya, John Calcaligong, Pat. Erwin Calixto, Staff Sergeant Salvador Agallatiw and Master Sergeant Alphedes Alvaro.

The policemen belong to the Cordillera Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

On March 29, Pat. Wilfredo Padawil was also killed during an encounter with the NPA while the government troops were conducting Internal Security Operations in Bauko./lzb