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Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Suspected rebels storm Negros town
DUMAGUETE CITY -- A medium-sized band of suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels raided the police station in La Libertad, Negros Oriental and carted away several firearms shortly before midnight Sunday.
The rebels ransacked the lockers inside the police station and disarmed police personnel. They also took four M-16 armalite rifles and five .45 caliber pistols during the raid.
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The suspects also took some police uniforms from the lockers.
Initial police reports said a woman, reportedly in her 40s, escorted by three young men, appeared before the La Libertad Police Station past 11 p.m. and pretended to have a complaint written down in the police blotter.
Some five officers were outside and entertained them. They later ushered the suspects into the police station after one of them stated their purpose.
Once their backs were turned, about four armed men "rushed up" to them and ordered all those on duty to drop to the floor. To keep the police officers from looking at them, the attackers used their feet to force them to face the ground.
The attackers ordered the police not to fight back as they were interested only in taking their firearms.
According to Police Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, deputy provincial director for operations, at least seven policemen were on duty at the La Libertad police station while two others had to go on an errand.
One policeman, identified as PO1 Carl Mark Jopillo, was wounded in the surprise attack, which is believed to be part of the NPA's earlier pronouncement it would be launching massive national tactical offensives in the coming weeks.
Jopillo, who was at the station’s barracks, was able to fire back with an M-16 rifle, hitting one of the rebels. However, the man's body was brought by his comrades.
Jopillo sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the initial report submitted by the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (Noppo) stated that there were about 40 attackers.
However, Noppo Director Augusto Marquez said there were only an estimated 12 persons -- the figure was derived from the size of the getaway Nissan Urvan later recovered.
The van, with plate number ZLR 771, was found in Barangay Solongon, leading to the mountains.
Marquez said the attack took less than two minutes, with the attackers fleeing at the back door.
Also, a report from Central Command (Centcom) stated that one Rojie Arellano, 20, of Barangay Mandapaton, La Libertad was held for questioning after he was reportedly "posing as a civilian" to verify the attack.
Marquez said they would not be too quick to conclude if the attack was initiated by the NPA.
He explained that some events in the incident would indicate that this was just another group pretending to be members of the NPA.
He pointed out that it was not in character of the NPA to take personal belongings.
And with more than 10 of them, they were surprised that once Jopilla fought back, they all began to scamper in different directions.
"Sa usa ra ka buto, mura na sila'g mga ilaga nga nagdinaganay (When they heard the single gunshot, they ran like startled rats)," Marquez told Sun.Star Cebu.
Marquez said they were studying the possibility of politics as a motive for the attack.
This was after one of perpetrators allegedly uttered words referring to a House representative.
"Dili ta kontra kay wala'y abusador nga pulis sa La Libertad. Armas ra ninyo among tuyo. Ang inyo ra'ng amo mao'y among kontra. Si Josy (We're not against you because cops here are not abusive. We only need your firearms. We're only against your leader Josy)," one of them allegedly said.
Marquez said they may have been referring to Jocelyn Limkaichong, who ran for first congressional district representative and is married to La Libertad Mayor Lawrence Limkaichong.
La Libertad Police Chief Edgar Deposoy and the 10 others who were on duty that time are under investigation.
Chief Superintendent Ronald Roderos said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has been tasked to get a description of the person who rented the van and instructed that cartographic sketches be made.
They will also be handling the investigation in coordination with the Provincial Internal Affairs Service to determine if Deposoy or any of the personnel on duty had any liability in terms of securing the police station.
Roderos left for Negros Oriental Monday morning to personally see what happened.
He met all the police chiefs of Negros Oriental and reminded them to tighten the security in their police stations to avoid a similar incident from happening.
Lieutenant General Pedro Ike Inserto, commander of Centcom, instructed the 302nd and 303rd Infantry Brigades to conduct pursuit operations on coordination with the local police of Negros Oriental. (PNA/MEA of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (November 4, 2008 issue)
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