BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The ambush on a police team in the upland village of Bi-ao in Binalbagan town is part of the extortion activities of the Communist New People’s Army for the May 2022 polls.
Army Brigadier General Innocencio Pasaporte told DNX the incident happened about a month after the NPA issued a reminder for candidates in Negros that their units still operate in the countrysides and that they have controlled territories.
Pasaporte said it is apparent that the attack on the police, what rebels call a “tactical offensive,” is part of the rebels propaganda to make it appear that they are still a force to reckon with.
He also said that the rebels want to intimidate the residents and could have done it as a diversion though he did not elaborate on this.
The ambush in the sub-village of Candida on Valentine’s eve, 13 February 2022 led to the wounding of three policemen, and a civilian.
The police unit went to the area to probe a murder they now believe to have been done by the rebels to lure them to the place.
