Cop killed, 3 others wounded in Negros clash
BACOLOD CITY — A police officer was killed while at least three of his colleagues were wounded in a clash with a group of about 30 suspected communist rebels in Calatrava town, Negros Occidental province, on Wednesday, police said. Reports said a team of police officers and soldiers was on its way to Calatrava to serve arrest warrants to ranking New People’s Army rebels led by Darry Dayawan and Charity Amacan when the firefight ensued at 10:20 a.m. in Barangay Minapasuk. Cpl. Jaime Nunez died in the clash while Capt. Jesus Alba, Calatrava deputy police chief; Cpl. Dennis Nasis; and Senior Master Sgt. Frank Caballero were wounded. Maj. Ronald Santillan, Calatrava police chief, said the wounds appeared to have been caused by shrapnel from an M-203 grenade fired by the rebels. —CARLA GOMEZ