DUMAGUETE CITY– Five civilians were killed during an encounter on Wednesday between members of the Philippine National Police Regional Public Safety Battalion in Central Visayas and the Civil Security Group (CSG) of Bais City, in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental.
Two RPSB policemen and a CSG member of the adjacent Bais City were wounded, according to the police report.
An initial police report showed that Dionesia Trongcoso, station manager of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Mabinay asked the assistance of the RPSB-7 personnel led by Insp. Lowelyn Reyes, acting chief of the 3rd company, to check on the presence of “armed men.”
The same police report said the head of the CSG identified only as Lasmarias called up the Bais police and requested for assistance.
The RPSB-7 met the group of CSG from Bais in Mabinay past 2 p.m.
The police report said one of the RPSB-7 personnel noticed something bulging at the waist of a CSG personnel. The policeman asked the CSG personnel to submit himself for inspection.
But without apparent reason, somebody from the group allegedly fired at RPSB-7 cops.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer tried to call Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, Bais police chief, and Senior Insp. Rogelio Pacificar, Mabinay police chief, but both could not be reached for comment. SFM