Monday, June 30, 2008 Rebels raid 2 police stations; 11 dead By Annabelle L. Ricalde
NINE communist rebels were killed Sunday in a clash with government troops after the New People's Army (NPA) attacked two police stations in the municipalities of Dapa and General Luna in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.
Two policemen died and another one was wounded as government forces poured in reinforcements to Siargao, said Major Michelle Anayron, information officer of the Army 4th Infantry Division.
Anayron said responding soldiers and policemen captured five of the raiders. They recovered four assault rifles -- two Garand rifle, one M14 rifle and one M16 with M203 launcher -- in barangay Panatao in Claver town where the rebels appeared to have withdrawn.
He said sporadic fighting continued late Sunday afternoon as soldiers on two Airforce Huey helicopters try to catch up with the rebels.
Senior Supt. Benhur Monggao, chief of the Surigao del Norte police, said rebels attacked the two police stations Sunday dawn.
He said the 60 NPA rebels ransacked the offices of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Health Insurance, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Public Attorney's Office, the Municipal Trial Court and the water district in Dapa town.
"The rebels carted away a total of 14 firearms and communication equipment," Monggao said. "At least one policeman was wounded in the attack."
He said the rebels also took several computers and folders of criminal cases from the Municipal Trial Court building.
Anayron said they immediately sent reinforcements using the huey helicopters backed by two MG 520 gunships and two OV10 Bronco bombers in the area.
Monggao said rebels on aboard the three vans were intercepted by the police in the town of Lapinigan Sunday morning, which triggered the firefight.
Sporadic clashes with communist rebels were also reported in the nearby village of Panatao, he said.
Anayron said soldiers were able to caught up with the rebels in Panatao as they tried to escape on five pumpboats.
He said two pumpboats fled to Lapinigan island while the three other boats were seen going to Claver town.
Anayron added they estimated that at least 20 rebels were trapped on the small island near Lapinigan.
The NPA claimed responsibility on the simultaneous raids on the two police stations but made no mention of the casualties.
In a statement emailed to Sunstar Cagayan de Oro, "Ka Andres Habagat," NPA spokesperson for Surigao del Norte, said the raids were conducted "as punishments" for the crimes allegedly committed by Dapa town Mayor Peter Boy Ruaya and the policemen.
"The police force have become back-ups and are defending crimes (allegedly) committed by Mayor Peter Boy Ruaya," Habagat said.
Habagat accused Ruaya and the town policemen of land grabbing of more than 160 hectares from poor residents; drug pushing; illegal gambling operations; violent ejection and illegal collection of fees from small store owners through the police; and harrassment of traders.
The rebel spokesperson also accused Ruaya of hiring armed criminals who were convicted of murder as personal goons. He said Ruaya also fired employees without appropriate reasons and replaced them with his close friends.
"The raid was meant to give revolutionary justice to the victims of Mayor Ruaya and the police's abuse. This frustrates Oplan Bantay Laya II (OBL2) of the US-Arroyo regime that is attacking the struggling people. This is also in response to the worsening economic crisis that the people are experiencing under the puppet regime," Habagat said.
Habagat added the raids should serve as stern warning "to abusive government officials and the bad elements that are harassing the people."
