CORDILLERA remains peaceful through the years with only 65 New People’s Army (NPA) related attacks recorded from 2012 up to the first three months of 2017.
Police Superintendent Laureano Alexis Mariñas, of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division of the Police Regional Office Cordillera said, from the 65 total incidents, there were five cases reported from January to May this year.
Marinas said Kalinga has the highest NPA related incidents with 22, followed by Abra with 18, 11 in Ifugao, eight in Mountain Province, and three each in Apayao and Benguet while Baguio City has recorded zero incidents.
During the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council meeting Marinas said 21 incidents were reported in 2012 and 2013, 13 in 2014, 14 in 2015 and 11 in 2016.
Of the total cases, 17 are already filed in the Prosecutors Office, 34 are currently heard by the different courts and 14 are still under investigation.
Earlier this year, two trucks of Philex Mining Corporation were torched by alleged NPA rebels leading to the arrest of three individuals.
Rebels also ambushed an entourage of Abra Police lead by former provincial director Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum.
Police reports reveal one platoon led by Tagum, and Superintendent Allen Bauding was ambushed by an undetermined number of communist rebels at Malanas bridge, Barangay Poblacion, Malibcong.
Wounded during the ambush are Police Officer 2 (PO2) Jessie Trinidad, PO1 Marlon dela Paz, PO1 Gerome Baldos, PO1 Kennon Sanggoy, and PO1 Von Harold Layao. The men were wounded when a suspected improvised explosive device exploded followed by bursts of gun fire.
Marinas added the police are currently conducting thorough investigation following an alleged robbery and disarming of PNP personnel in Buguias, Benguet.
Rebels are also being tagged in the killing of Retired Colonel Oscar Ibarra on February 14, 2017 at Liwon, Amduntog, Asipulo, Ifugao while biking; and the burning of a Volvo Backhoe owned by Randy Balbino Construction Company and Royal Seabees Construction in the morning of March 31 at Bakwit, Allaguia, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.