Medals given to 3 cops who survived NPA attack

BACOLOD CITY – Three policemen who survived the New People’s Army (NPA) ambush that killed seven people in a village in Guihulngan City on Friday were given the wounded personnel’s medal while recuperating from their wounds at the Silliman University Medical Center in Dumaguete City.

Chief Supt. Edmundo Gonzales, police director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Negros Island Region, awarded the medals to PO3 Jordan Balderas, SPO2 Jury Maribao and SPO4 Jerome Delara, who survived the NPA attack that killed six of their colleagues and one civilian in Barangay Magsaysay in Guihulngan City at 10 am on Friday.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) give the medal to police, soldiers, and civilians in their employ, who happened to be wounded or killed in an attack staged by the enemy.

Gonzales also dropped by the Guihulngan police station to assure policemen of his support as he condoled with the families of Supt. Arnel Arpon, Guihulngan police chief; PO2 Alfredo Dunque, PO2 Alvin Bulandres, PO3 Teovic Agusto, SPO2 Nicasio Tabilon and SPO1 Jesael Ancheta who were killed during the ambush.

The policemen were on their way to Barangay Magsaysay, where Guihulngan Councilor Edison Delarita was calling for help after he was wounded and his aide, Michael Jambalos killed, in an NPA attack.  It turned out that the group of NPA rebels who attacked Delarita and killed Jambalos was the same group who staged the ambush.

President Duterte called off the talks between the government and the Communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) following reports of the NPA attack.

Supt. Carlos dela Cuesta, Negros Oriental deputy provincial director for operations, said at least 60 NPA rebels who took part in the ambush also took away one 9mm Berretta, four 9mm Glock pistols, one .45 caliber pistol, five M16 Elisco rifles, one M16 Colt rifle, and three M4 rifles from the slain policemen.  GAL