THREE police officers from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB)-Caraga Region were wounded after they clashed with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at 1:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 2, in the town of Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
“Three of our police officers from the RPSB-13 (Caraga Region) were wounded after they encountered an undetermined number of NPA rebels at around 1:30 in the morning along the hinterland area in Barangay Poblacion in the town of Carmen in Agusan del Norte,” said Police Superintendent Martin Gamba, public information officer of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Caraga.
Gamba identified the wounded as Police Officer (PO) 1 Ricky Arcite who was wounded on his right shoulder, right part of the abdominal area and left finger; PO1 Joemar Guiral who was injured on his left leg; and PO1 Damilo Valenzuela who was wounded on his left arm.
The policemen were part of RPSB-Caraga Region who were conducting operations against the rebels along with the Agusan del Norte Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) and elements of the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion.
The joint operation is currently underway after the NPA under the Guerilla Front 4A, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee harassed the patrol base of 1st Platoon, 1st Maneuver Company of the RPSB-Caraga Region stationed in Tagcatong village, Carmen, last Monday.
A police report from the Municipal police office of Carmen in Agusan del Norte said the clash transpired on July 31, around 10 a.m. in the vicinity of Marcos Park, Tagcatong village.
The firefight lasted for about 55 minutes with no reported casualties on the government side and an undetermined number of wounded or killed on the enemy side.
During the encounter, around 30 armed men conducted roadblock on the National Highway of Barangay Rojales, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
Police Chief Superintendent Rolando Felix, Regional Director of PRO-Caraga Region pointed out that they have traced the presence and movement of the fleeing NPA rebels and that their forces will continue with the pursuit operations while hardening possible NPA targets and intensifying its intelligence gather on possible movement of the rebel group.