NPA rebels raid Isabela town cop headquarters

By Joan Capuna

DIVILACAN, Isabela -- A large of band of New People’s Army fighters recently swooped down a police station here but a police official said the raid was an upset since the rebels only took three firearms which are way below their expected loot.

“Investigation disclosed that their primary mission was to get as many firearms as possible,” said Chief Supt. Roberto Damian, director of the Cagayan Valley Region Police.

“The Divilacan Police Station was issued with four organization firearms, two of them were with the off-duty policemen during the raid and are now accounted for,” he added.

Damian said the rebel operation, carried out by some 40 armed men with two women, appeared to be well-planned and started by flagging down a six-wheeler truck, which was supposed to pick up a solar power panels and other equipment for the Maconacon town, in Barangay Dicatian in Divilacan town at around 10 a.m. Sunday Nov. 29.

All the 15 men on board the truck were then taken to a nearby forested area and ordered to leave. The rebels then took the truck which they used in raiding the Divilacan Police Station 30 minutes later.

One of the duty cops was caught by surprise while another one was captured by the rebels while he was on his way to escape. The third cop on duty, however, managed to run away as he was then buying something in a nearby store.

“They stormed the police station and kept on firing their guns as they enter, they also managed to destroy the lockers were the firearms were kept,” said Damian.