INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
LIGAO CITY – Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with the police at the junction of Bascaran and Alobo village in Daraga, Albay near the Bicol International Airport on Tuesday.
Police Brigadier General Westrimundo Obinque, Bicol region police chief, told the Inquirer in a phone interview that police officers were on patrol at around 4:30 p.m. when the suspects, on board a motorcycle fired at them.
The police officers returned fire which resulted in the death of the suspected rebels.
Based on initial investigation, there was a plan by NPAs to attack the police community station in the area, Police Colonel Fernando Cunanan Jr., Albay police chief, told Inquirer in a separate phone interview.
“A map was found inside the wallet [of one of the suspects], an indication that there was a plan to harass our men which is situated in area near Bicol International Airport as drawn in the map. Good thing our men are alert and on guard,” Cunanan said.