Military, police pursuing NPAs who killed four cops in Negros Oriental

July 22, 2019

The military will "enforce the full force of the law" against the New People's Army (NPA) members who killed four policemen in Negros Oriental last week.

Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command chief, said the military and police is conducting pursuit operation against the rebels who killed the cops in Ayungon, Negros Oriental last Thursday.

"What we will do is enforce the full force of the law against them and they will bear the brunt of government forces going against them," he said

"It's a combined effort of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and AFP. There are troops from the mobile force, the Police Regional Public Safety Battalion and one of our battalions is there," Clement added.

He said the rebels who are subject of the pursuit operations "are around 20 to 25, probably one platoon."

Clement said based on their assessment the perpetrators went to Negros Occidental after the incident.

"Based on our initial assessment, they transferred to (Negros) Occidental for the meantime... because they know that we are hunting them, but even if they go anywhere... we will bring those perpetrators to justice," he said.

Clement said following the incident in Ayungon, the police and military  conducted operations to clear the area from rebels who allegedly intimidate  people.

"We sat down with the PNP to conduct operations in the area, to clear the barangay, because that area is not affected (by insurgents) but they wanted to recover (the area). That is why they did that to police to intimidate  people to support them," he said. Robina Asido/DMS