Probe ordered on 2 Abra NPA attacks; 5 cops hurt, guns seized

By Larry Madarang and Aldwin Quitasol

CAMP BADO DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – The regional police office here has created a special investigation task group headed by Senior Supt. Gregorio Lim, deputy regional director for administration, to probe cops and check  operational lapses  when five members of Philippine National Police were injured while assorted firearms were seized by the New People’s Army in two clashes in Malibcong, Abra last week.

The NPA claimed responsibility for the attacks. 

Around 30 communist rebels raided the town’s police station, which is temporarily housed at the abandoned home of Malibcong Mayor Benido Bacuyag.

The guerrillas occupied the station for an hour and took seven M16 rifles, three pistols and four mobile phones.

 This, as Abra Gov. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos said all policemen deployed in Malibcong were pulled out and relieved with those coming from the Cordillera regional headquarters.

Abra is presently on heightened alert.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Oco Sarona, earlier identified the wounded policemen in N PA clashes as as: PO2 Jessie Pastores Trinidad and police inspectors 1 Marlon Banigan De Lapaz, Gerome Pacapac Baldos, Von Harold Layao and Kennon Batanes Sanggoy.

They are now receiving medical treatment at a hospital in the capital town of Bangued.

The five, Sarona said, were part of the convoy with Senior Supt.  Alexander Tagum, Abra police director and Supt. Allen Bauding, head of Provincial Public Safety Company.

The convoy was on its way to reinforce elements of Malibcong police when they were ambushed at Malibcong’s Malanas Bridge at Barangay Poblacion, around at 11 a.m., March 13.

The lead vehicle, Sarona said was hit when an improvised explosive device exploded, followed by burst of fire that led to wounding of policemen.

Earlier around 7:30 p.m., March 12, New People’s Army guerillas led by a certain Ka Payas attacked the Malibcong municipal police station.

According to reports, there was an initial 10-minute exchange of gunfire between the police and NPA members when village elders intervened and begged the policemen to cease firing to avoid civilian casualties who might be caught in the cross fire.

However, reports said, the rebels, outnumbering the policemen disarmed the cops and carted away their weapons.

Police inventory said, seven long firearms, three short firearms, assorted ammunition and assorted personal and office gadgets were taken by the rebels.

No policeman was hurt during the incident.

This, as the regional Chadli Molintas Command of the New People’s Army Cordillera cited in a statement red commanders and fighters of the Agustin Begnalen Command of NPA Abra on what it claimed to be a successful raid on  the police station in Barangay Poblacion.

According to CMC, the NPA managed to put the police station under their control for about an hour. The NPA command claimed the NPA guerillas were able to confiscate 10 government arms ammunition including 6 M16 rifles, 1 M203, 2 9mm and Cal.45r pistols. The rebels also carted away ammunition of different caliber, 2 rifle grenades, ammo vests and uniforms.

The CMC said the raid on the Malibcong police station was in response to directive of the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines and National Operational Command of the NPA to launch tactical offensives against the armed forces of the government and as an act of defense amidst declaration of an all-out war by President Rodrigo Duterte against the revolutionary movement.

The NPA command added the attacks were also in response to alleged abuses of Malibcong police of local folks human rights and disrespect of indigenous socio-political system, said CMC spokesperson Martin Montana.