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Thursday, June 28, 2007
Cops probe communist involvement in Kalinga attack
By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
BAGUIO CITY -- Police are still verifying if the communist group instigated the shootout during last Monday's demolition in Kalinga that resulted in the death of nine people and injuries to over 10 others.
Investigators though do not yet have concrete evidence to say for certain that communist New People's Army (NPA) guerillas were involved, said Cordillera Police Regional Office Chief Raul Gonzales.
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"We cannot just say that the NPA or any other group is behind this because we are still conducting an investigation into this (case). We need to have solid proof before we can issue any statements," Gonzales told reporters during a press briefing in Hotel Tepeyac shortly before noon Wednesday.
He said eight persons have been arrested for firing at policemen providing security to a local government team tasked to demolish shanties built on a private lot in the town of Rizal in Kalinga. Police are readying charges against them, added Gonzales.
Police identified the eight as Felipe Elat Salibad, Christian Tannong Bag-ay, Dave Tannong Bag-ay and Mike Bag-ay, all of Allaguia, Pinupuk; Delfin Baguiwan Malaggay of Ab-abaan, Balbalan; Lopez Ngaluban Marnag alias Sagmayao of Butbut Proper; Gaspar Bagos Cayabo of Mabaca, Pinukpuk; and Stalet Tinong of Suyang, Tabuk.
Another police source said the land being occupied by the squatters is owned by the family of Senator Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal.
Rizal Mayor Marcelo dela Cruz defended the demolition, saying he was only implementing the anti-squatting law and that there was no political motive involved in his order to demolish the houses of squatting families.
Nine persons were killed and 13 others were wounded when armed men fired at the demolition team and policemen responded by firing back. The bloody firefight came on the heels of the demolition of shanties in Malapiat, San Pascual, Rizal, Kalinga last Monday.
Those killed in the firefight were Pedro Oliba, Felimon Oliba, Conrado Ordoña, Delfin Madayag, Juan Attang, Bangi Baccoy, Abbuc Tayaan, Rufino Culabban, and Sabawil Agyao, all residents of Malapiat. Olibas and Madayag were from Mabaca, Pinukpuk; Attang was from Ab-abaan, Balbalan; Ordoña was from Bulanao; while Baccoy, Tayaan and Agyao were from Butbut, Tinglayan.
Wounded residents were identified as Gayyad Addawi, Alib Baclas, and Gaspar Cayabo. All three are now undergoing treatment at the hospital here.
The wounded policemen, on the other hand, include Senior Insp. Bobby Glen Ganipac, Insp. Nelson Nelmida, Insp. Leo Guay, SPO1 Franklin Narag, SPO1 Reynaldo Villanueva, SPO1 Romeo Duguiawe, PO3 Claro Aquino, PO2 Noel Tumbali, PO1 Gary Basiag and PO1 Ramon Mamanteo. Nelmida, Guay, and Villanueva were critically wounded, according to a police report.
The policemen with the assistance of the military were conducting clearing operation for a subsequent demolition, when members of an unidentified armed group fired at them.
Assailants refused to back down when told to surrender, prompting police to fire back. At least nine of the gunmen were killed.
Gonzales said policemen were armed with a municipal resolution authorizing the demolition.
A follow-up investigation said they were patrolling the area when they were fired upon, with bullets hitting one policeman on his right hand and right leg and the other on his neck.
Other policemen rushed to the two's rescue and were also met by a hail of gunfire.
Wounded policemen were rushed to the Juan Duyan District Hospital in Rizal for medical treatment. Two--Guay and Nelmida--were evacuated to the Cagayan Valley Regional Hospital in Carig, Cagayan for surgical operation due to the gravity of their wounds.
At the crime scene, responding police teams recovered two M-16 rifles with defaced serial numbers, short ammunition magazines and 13 live bullets; a US Carbine with one magazine and three live ammo; 2 long homemade shotguns with 2 live ammos each; short homemade shotgun; hand grenade; and two empty shells for 12-gauge shotgun cartridges; and one long cal. 22 rifle.
The remains of the slain gunmen were brought to the Carbonel Funeral Parlor for identification and autopsy. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (June 28, 2007 issue)
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