3 cops hurt in clash with Reds in Pangasinan

Three policemen were wounded following a clash with suspected communist rebels in Dasol, Pangasinan Tuesday afternoon, radio dzBB reported. In its report Wednesday, dzBB said Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, police director for Region I, identified those wounded as P03 Genaro Damasco, P02 Dennis Banate, and P01 Dennis Aquino. The same report said elements of the 106th Provincial Mobile Group and the Mabini and Dasol municipal police were patrolling Sitio Happy Valley near the boundary of Mabini and Dasol towns when engaged by about 30 New People's Army (NPA) rebels at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Those wounded were promptly taken to the Dagupan City Hospital for treatment. Bataoil later said the rebels were out to conduct extortion activities in the area. "The community complained to the police, hence a joint operation was conducted which resulted to the encounter," Bataoil said. As of posting time, pursuit operations were still being undertaken by security forces in the area. - Mark Ubalde, GMANews.TV