2 cops wounded in Iloilo roadside blast

MANILA, Philippines — Two police officers were wounded in a roadside explosion allegedly hatched by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Singon in Tubungan, Iloilo on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said in a press briefing that this would possibly be the first atrocity against state forces after the declaration on Sunday of a unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire between the government and the NPA for the Christmas season.

READ: Gov’t, Reds declare holiday ceasefire

Gamboa said personnel of the 1st Iloilo Mobile Force Company were aboard a patrol car when an improvised explosive device (IED) suddenly went off.

He identified the wounded police officers as a certain Pat. Galve and Staff Sergeant Lindo, who sustained minor injuries on their faces.

Gamboa said this could be a retaliatory action of the NPA in the wake of  massive police operations against the rebels in previous days.

“There is a very big possibility na kanila (NPA) ito (that they perpetrated this attack),” he said.

Should it be proven that the offensive was initiated by NPA rebels, Gamboa said it would be a violation of the truce between the two parties.

“We will count it as a violation on their part. Unilateral ito, and I hope they would declare also the same, so that magbilangan kami kung Ilan ang violation (we will be able to count how many were the violations),” said Gamboa.

He said criminal charges will be filed once the police identify those behind the explosion, but asserted that the PNP is “not in the position yet” to recommend that the ceasefire be cancelled because of this attack if proven that the IED was indeed from the communist group.

He likewise advised police units nationwide to be alert despite the ceasefire.

“As much as possible, make yourself as hard targets. Do not give the enemy a chance to take advantage,” he said.

GSG