A police officer was killed in a clash between law enforcement officers and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the town of Janiuay, Iloilo province on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020.
Police Captain Efren Espanto, team leader of the 6th Regional Mobile Force Battalion Reconnaissance Company (6th RMFBRC), died of a gunshot wound on his head.
The encounter took place at 6:10 p.m. in Barangay Aglobong.
Espanto, 29, is a native of La Carlota City in Negros Occidental. He graduated from the Philippine National Police Academy in 2015.
The 6th RMFBRC, based in Dumangas town, was conducting combat operations in the area when it was attacked by the rebels.The firefight lasted for almost 30 minutes.
The NPA’s Jose Percival Estocada Command, which operates in central Panay, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The rebel group said that one other police officer was wounded in the encounter and none among its members.
“Isa pa ang nipalasan sa opensiba sang NPA. Samtang, wala sang nasamaran kag hilway nga naka-atrasang mga pulang hangaway.”
The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) said a hot pursuit operation is ongoing against the rebels.IMT
