PNP chief commends men in Victoria police station attack

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde commended Thursday, March 28, the personnel of Victoria Municipal Police Station in Northern Samar for being able to defend their post against some communist rebels who attacked the station.

“We would like to commend the Victoria Municipal Police Station doon sa Samar at nagpakita talaga sila ng tapang, wherein they were harassed by more or less 50 NPA (New People's Army) rebels but they were able to repulse ‘yung pag-atake sa kanila,” Albayalde said.

The attack happened around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, March 28.

The station has 15 police personnel. They engaged in a gunfight with the rebels.

The gunfight last for more than three hours.

Three rebels were killed in the incident, while two policemen, identified as Police Senior Master Sergeant Arturo Gordo Jr. and Police Master Sergeant Arnold Cabacang, were wounded.

Albayalde said some of the police officers positioned at the rooftop of the station in order to have a good vantage point against the attackers.

“They occupied the high ground. Pumunta sila sa second or third floor ng kanilang station at doon sila nakipaglaban at nakipagpalitan ng putok. Of course, in any firefight, ang sabi nga nila, you always occupy the high ground,” he said.

Recovered during the attack were one caliber M60, one M14, and two M16, while an NPA member was arrested.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said he would recommend that the police personnel involved in the incident be given due honors and recognition.

“Despite being outnumbered by the attacking communist terrorists, these brave police officers held their position and defeated the enemy. This is a highly commendable accomplishment that should be the standard in all police stations nationwide: outnumbered but never outfought,” he said.

“The best defense is always offense. Let us go and attack the NPA guerrilla bases in tandem with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and make sure that these NPA terrorists will pay for their heinous crimes against the Filipino people,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)