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Friday, May 23, 2008
'NPA rebels' attack bus terminal
MANILA -- A group of armed men believed to be members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) barged into the terminal of the Victory Liner in Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday night and burned at least three of its buses, police and military officials reported Thursday.
The perpetrators, numbering at least 10 men, arrived at the terminal compound at New York and Denver Streets at 11 p.m. Wednesday on board two vans and immediately disarmed the company's security guards.
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Police said the men, who later introduced themselves as NPA rebels, torched the buses and warned the people at the vicinity against intervening. The perpetrators fled after saying they are long mad at the company's policies.
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Magtanggol Gatdula was cautious against pointing to the NPA as responsible, saying the motive of the attack could be plain and simple labor-related. He also said there was no intelligence report indicating a rebel plan.
Armed Forces public information officer Ernesto Torres said they are not discounting the rebels' involvement in the attack, noting initial investigation conducted by the police. He also noted that burning of buses is a rebel style.
"Judging from those pronouncements, there is possibility. They claimed that they were from the other side and we know for a fact that the NPA rebels do that (bus burning). So we are looking at that possibility," said Torres.
He also said the military is helping in the investigation.
"We are working closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) because as of the moment they lead this investigation. We are collaborating with the Philippine National Police in the investigation," Torres said.
Meanwhile, PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. ordered more aggressive round-the-clock checkpoint operations nationwide to prevent the possible movement of criminal and even terrorist elements.
During his visit to Manila last Thursday, Razon personally assessed the checkpoint and police visibility operations by the Manila Police District (MPD) under Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.
Rosales told Razon that checkpoint operations have been put up in strategic locations around the capital city, with mobile patrol and beat patrol units providing police visibility.
At a mobile checkpoint by the MPD along Roxas Boulevard, dozens of private vehicles without license plates, and those sporting unauthorized commemorative and vanity plates were accosted.
"If left unchecked, we are worried that criminal and even terrorist elements may take advantage and actually employ this unlawful practice to hide their activities from the arm of the law," Razon said.
The vehicles that were stopped include those sporting commemorative and vanity plates "PPSA," "PNPA," "PGH," "Kalinga," "Prosecutor," "Councilor," and "University of the Philippines," among others.
The PNP chief clarified that although these plates are approved by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the original LTO plates must remain visible at all times.
"These commemorative plates also serve a purpose, but car owners must be reminded that the original LTO plates must be displayed as well," he said. (VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (May 23, 2008 issue)
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