Saturday, July 05, 2008 Davao Oriental police chiefs axed for Banay raid By Ben O. Tesiorna
HEADS rolled after the successful raid by the New People's Army (NPA) on the town hall of Banaybanay in Davao Oriental Thursday morning.
The Police Regional Office announced Friday the relief of Davao Oriental Provincial Police Director Jimmy Manabat and of a certain Senior Inspector Pante of the Banaybanay police office.
Manabat is being replaced by Senior Superintendent Efren Perez and Pante by Senior Inspector Philip Ayban.
The relief of the two officers came after NPA rebels staged a daring attack on the Banaybanay police station located inside the municipal grounds. The rebels were onboard two trucks and a van and were posing as civilian protesters.
The raiders were even shouting "Ibagsak si Arroyo" before drawing out their guns and firing incessantly at the police station.
Eastern Mindanao Command chief Major General Armando Cunanan admitted Thursday that the latest rebel attack is a setback to their counter-insurgency campaign.
Cunanan vowed though that the Armed Forces of the Philippines would retaliate and hit back hard.
