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Friday, August 24, 2007
Entire San Isidro police force axed
By Carlo P. Mallo, Ben O. Tesiorna and Grace L. Plata
DAVAO CITY -- It was a repeat of the Easter Sunday raid by the New People's Army (NPA) on the Davao Penal Colony in Davao del Norte, that Wednesday attack by guerillas on the police station in San Isidro town in Davao Oriental.
The incident was almost a perfect imitation -- from the vehicles used up to the carting away of firearms.
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Southern Mindanao Police Regional Office Director Andres Caro II immediately ordered on Thursday the relief of the town's entire police force.
Caro tasked the Regional Mobile Group to take over police matters in the municipality.
The military's Eastern Mindanao Command, headed by Rodolfo Obaniana, on Thursday called NPA guerillas cowards after the "rebels employed deception" in raiding the police station.
He said the raid just showed how weak NPA rebels are.
"The incident does not portray that they (rebels) are getting stronger. The mere fact that they have to use deceit shows they cannot fight the military and the police face to face," Obaniana said.
He said the rebels took advantage of the reduction of military forces in the province due to realignment.
Obaniana said their remaining forces in the area are now running after the rebels who were last seen going towards the City of Mati.
Caro said he was disappointed with the police for being lax and, despite his constant reminders for them to be always on guard, the rebels were still able to successfully launch a disarming raid.
"Alam nyo po hindi po tayo nagkulang ng mga paalala (You know that we did not fail to remind) regarding sa (the) sightings ng (of) NPA sa (in the) area kaya nga nilagyan ng (that's why we provided a) fence, cyclone wire, at (and) barricade ang station pero talaga lang pong naisahan sila (it's just that the rebels still scored)," Caro said.
About 22 fully armed men swooped down on and disarmed members of the San Isidro police at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and took off with 10 M16 rifles, one 9mm handguns, two .45 caliber pistols, one .38 caliber pistol, one computer, one radio base, and one camera.
The raiders, authorities said, were members of NPA Front Committee 18 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Command.
The group was on board two vans and caught by surprise the policemen who were having their lunch.
The group also raided a nearby mango farm and took a 12-gauge shotgun and radio from the guards of the Southern Davao Corporation plantation.
Following the raid, Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon sought the return of the 67th Infantry Battalion to her province.
"It (the attack) was a unique birthday gift but even so I am happy that there were no casualties," Malanyaon said Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.
She said after the RPOC meeting, she will meet with General Carlos Holganza, commanding Officer of the 101st Infantry Division based in the Compostela Valley, to discuss her request for the return of the Army's 67th IB contingent in Davao Oriental.
Holganza said Thursday that Task Force Domino has been ordered to investigate the incident.
Task Force Domino was organized by the military and the police to secure Davao Oriental following the pullout of the Army battalion from the province.
Davao City Police Office Director Jaime Morente said the San Isidro incident is a wake-up call for policemen everywhere to be always on their guard. "Some personnel have gone complacent," Morente said in Thursday's AFP-PNP press conference. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (August 24, 2007 issue)
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