DAVAO CITY – Three members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF) were killed in different attacks of the New People’s Army in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte last Tuesday (June 9).
Omar Ibarra, spokesperson of the NPA Western Agusan Norte-Agusan Sur (NPA-WANAS) Sub-regional Command, said the attacks took place around 7:00 pm in Barangay Olave, Buenavista.
Ibarra said the PNP-SAF was launching operations in the mountainous areas of Buenavista and neighboring towns as a security measure related to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ visit to Butuan City to distribute police patrol cars.
“The guerilla unit operating in the area responded to enemy troop movement by releasing harassment teams,” Ibarra said.
Two SAF troopers were killed on the spot while an undetermined number were wounded. A third trooper died in the hospital. Ibarra said there were no casualties on the NPA side.
