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Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Communist group admits raid, town cop's slay
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The communist New People's Army in Northern Mindanao claimed responsibility Monday for Sunday's raid of a police station in Dangcagan, Bukidnon that resulted in the death of a police officer.
Following the incident, the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental voiced concern over reports that communist rebels were beefing up forces and influence in one of the province's 24 towns.
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Provincial Board Norris Babiera, the incoming vice governor, said he received reports of how the communist front is mobilizing its forces in Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental.
"I have already talked with the 8th Infantry Battalion head and our provincial police here in Misamis Oriental to strengthen security to deter attacks by the NPA," he said Monday.
In several text messages to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Ka Cesar Renerio of the NPA said they were behind the raid on the police station in Dangcagan, Bukidnon last Sunday.
The rebel leader confirmed through his aide that it was one of their young platoons composed of members with ages ranging from 20 to 30 years who carted away four M16 firearms and two other handguns from the town's police armory.
Dangcagan is on the southern side of the province.
Five people
Police reports said around 30 communist rebels raided the police station at around 10:30 a.m. last Sunday.
Police officer Danilo Noblefranca, who opened fire on the rebels, got shot and died on the spot while a fellow police officer was able to escape and contact their chief, Henry Pañares, for reinforcement.
Over radio station dxIF, Bukidnon-Davao van driver Loloy Requierme narrated how around 10 a.m. last Sunday, he was at the Valencia City terminal when five young people - a lady and four men - wanted to hire him for a trip to Davao City.
He admitted that he thought that he was very fortunate especially as their passengers handed them P4,000.
"I didn't notice their firearms at that time as they probably hid it in the backpacks that they were bringing," he said.
Requierme said he was told to go to Quezon, Bukidnon first as the group wanted to pick up more of their friends.
But when they reached a barrio somewhere in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, he said one of his passengers suddenly asked him to stop as he wanted to answer a call of nature.
Van hijacked
It was at this point that three more people rode on his vehicle and the group managed to wrest control of the van away from him.
"One of them told me to step down from the van as they would now be driving the van," he said.
Requierme said he did not complain when his van helper told him that his passengers are armed and are communist rebels.
As he has a fellow driver who was put in the same situation before, he said he kept calm and did as he was told.
He nevertheless went to the nearest police station in Quezon, Bukidnon and had the whole incident recorded in the police blotter.
"It was there that the police officer informed us about what happened in Dangcagan and made notes of everything we can remember," he said.
He added that the rebels left the van in a village in Quezon, Bukidnon.
The driver said during the radio interview they were ordered by the communist rebels to head to the nearest police precinct and report the incident to avoid being implicated in the raid.
Chief relieved
Police Chief Superintendent Dan Empedrad said they are pursuing the rebels and scouring the mountains in the area.
Also, he said they are holding a full-blown investigation on the incident and asking every police official to account for what they were doing at the time of the incident.
When asked as to what will happen to Pañares, he replied: "Automatic command responsibility; he is relieved and the subject of our investigation."
He believed some of the rebel communists were also wounded because the two police officers were able to fire at them.
Pañares said he received a message Sunday that they were being called to their headquarters to attend a meeting.
Because of this, he went home. He said his residence is seven kilometers from the police station and he did not hear any of the commotion, not even the blast from the grenade thrown at his own office.
He said it was very noisy because it was a Sunday, a day for cockfighting and the market. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (June 26, 2007 issue)
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Broadcaster killed, 2 others wounded in ambush