3 slain as rebels attack Mindoro police station: Mayor, aide held hostage

CALAPAN CITY, Philippines – A police officer, a soldier and a civilian were killed while seven others were wounded when around 50 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas stormed the municipal police station and the town hall in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro last Friday.

The rebels reportedly used Mayor Carl Michael Pangilinan and municipal administrator Eduardo Yambao as human shields in order to flee from the pursuing troops.

The fatalities were identified as a certain Police Officer 1 Alcagno, Army Cpl. Job Florendo and a civilian named “Edong.”

Major Angelo Guzman, spokesperson for the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said the rebels, who were reportedly wearing military uniforms, arrived at the station in Barangay Alipao in two vehicles at around 3 p.m.

Guzman said the rebels opened fire at the police officers, triggering a firefight that resulted in the death of Alcagno and the wounding of seven other lawmen, among them Police Officer 3 Fibet Laquiores, Police Officer 2 Robert Tendido and Police Officers 1 Jose Rico Aguillana and Alex Francisco.

 Major Arnold Gasalatan, spokesperson for the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (ID), said soldiers from the Army’s 76th Infantry Battalion (IB) were at the police station when the attack occurred.

He said the soldiers helped the police officers defend the station, resulting in the death of Florendo, adding Edong was killed in the crossfire.

After the firefight, the rebels fled to the nearby municipal hall and seized Pangilinan and Yambao, who were later released along a river three kilometers away from the police station.

Senior Superintendent Ronaldo de Jesus, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police director, expressed belief that the NPA had long planned the attack.

De Jesus said the municipal police had been warned that the rebels would launch an offensive against government forces in the area.