Cordi PNP brass hits Kalinga NPA raid on army post

By Pamela Mariz Geminiano

BAGUIO CITY-- The Police Regional Office Cordillera condemned the New People’s Army for attacking the CAFGU  patrol base in Uma, Lubuagan, Kalinga at dawn of Dec. 23, which led to the death of the base commander and injury to three other personnel.

Chief Supt. Rolando Nana said in a statement posted on the unit's official Facebook page

"They have launched attacks to government troops in PRO 5, PRO 10 and now in PROCOR; this is besides murdering government servants, AFP, and PNP personnel who are serving and protecting the community," the statement added.

"They have shown their true color by violating the ceasefire they themselves declared," Nana said.

 He said the PROCOR will endeavor to help seek justice for the death of Sgt. Elon Bayang, the CAA cadre, and the wounding of three others.

 The police general also said that the about 30 member NPA unit had left one of their own, who died in the 15-minute exchange of fire.

"The CNT’s too have lost a comrade during their attack. The lifeless body of commander/squad leader Roy Tongdo also known as "Rex" from Balbalan, Kalinga, was left behind by those whom he believed would fight side by side with him to death," he said.

Earlier, the Fifth Infantry Battalion (5ID) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has operational jurisdiction over the Cafgu, had called on the public to report sightings of NPAs in the communities including their extortion activities that sow terror to the people, especially those in far-flung communities. –PNA