Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has placed the entire city of Iloilo under ‘Red Alert Status’ on Sunday afternoon (June 18) after armed men raided a police station in the town of Maasin, roughly 25 kilometers from Iloilo City.
According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Iloilo Police is confirming reports of about 40 armed men attacking a police station before noon. The men are allegedly members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
As a precautionary measure, Mabilog has placed the city under Red Alert Status.
The Mayor’s official statement reads:
“As a precautionary measure due to incident in Maasin Iloilo, by authority vested by the general welfare act of the local government code, Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog of Iloilo City has placed the entire City of Iloilo in full Red Alert Status. All Barangay Captains and Barangay Officials together with their Barangay Tanods and CVO’s shall strictly monitor their respective barangays and report any suspicious movement that may compromise the peace and order situation of the city. Likewise as the Police has already placed the city under red alert status the barangays are instructed to collaborate with their respective district police stations in the maintenance of peace and order within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Iloilo. The public is likewise advised to remain calm and vigilant with their surroundings. There is no reported threat to the city. This is just a precautionary measure. Lets all stay alert and vigilant.”
The suspected NPA rebels rode a truck into town and raided the Maasin Police Station. Reports of rebels confiscating phones, firearms, and freeing prisoners are still being confirmed.
Meanwhile, local radio station RMN Iloilo posted a video showing armed men roaming the streets of Maasin:
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