POLICE in Bicol were placed on full alert status following the series of attacks staged by the New People’s Army (NPA), an official said Tuesday, December 18.
Bicol Police Director Arnel Escobal said that on the evening of December 17, NPA rebels attacked the Magallanes Municipal Police Station, the Provincial Mobile Force Company in Sorsogon Police Provincial Office, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion based in Bula, Camarines Sur.
Three cops, identified as Police Officer (PO) 1 Rolan Geul, PO1 Sonny Son Estera and PO1 Melvin Bartolata, and a civilian were hurt after at least 16 NPA rebels fired at the Magallanes Police Station in Barangay Poblacion around 7:30 p.m.
The wounded persons were brought to the Magallanes Medicare Hospital in Magallanes and Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital in Sorsogon City for treatment.
Earlier, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA said it will observe a temporary holiday ceasefire during the Christmas holidays, specifically on 12:01 a.m. of December 24 until 11:59 p.m. of December 26 and at 12:01 a.m. of December 31 until 11:59 p.m. of January 1. The CPP-NPA will also be celebrating its 50th founding anniversary during this period.
The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, however, refused to believe in such pronouncement, saying the CPP has never been sincere in such declaration. (SunStar Philippines)