ANEW People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla was killed on Tuesday in Camarines Sur in the first attack against government forces to be perpetrated by communist three days after they celebrated their 46th founding anniversary.
A policeman and another rebel were also wounded during the ambush, which was perpetrated by four rebels, according to Sr. Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesman for the Bicol regional police.
Calubaquib identified the wounded policeman as Police Officer 2 Christian DJ Vibares, of the Tigaon, Camarines Sur, police force.
Vibares was on his way to report to the police station for his duty, when the four gunmen fired at him at Barangay New Moriones, Ocampo, Camarines Sur, at around 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday.
Although wounded, the policeman managed to return fire before he managed to call for reinforcement from the nearby Ocampo police station.
Calubaquib said members of the Ocampo police rescued Vibares and took him to the nearest hospital.
During the exchange of gunfire, Vibares, however, killed one of his attackers and wounded another.
The rebel casualties have not been identified. Calubaquib said two M-16 rifles were also recovered from the rebels. The ambush of Vibares was the first attack to be carried out by the NPA since it celebrated its anniversary on Sunday.
Earlier, Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, Armed Forces spokesman, said that the rebels are already marginalized and are no longer capable of carrying out attacks against bigger targets. Kakilala said this is the reason the guerrillas have resorted to “hit-and-run” tactics and pick on smaller targets like policemen or soldiers moving alone or in twos.
Kakilala said the demise of the communist movement was being brought by the construction of development projects in places where they are operating or used to operate.
He said the military is hoping to reduce the communist rebel movement into an “inconsequential force” at the end of President Aquino’s term next year.