PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned the uniformed personnel against threats by the Special Partisan Unit (Sparu), the New People’s Army’s (NPA’s) urban hit squad, as it has started to stage attacks against security personnel.
Speaking during the turnover ceremony of 26 Units Mitsubishi Patrol Vehicle and inauguration of New Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO) Building New Crime Lab Office in Candelaria St., Ecoland, Davao City, Duterte also reminded the cops to take precautionary measures for themselves.
“Be careful today because the NPAs are renewing their vicious cycle of attacks,” Duterte said.
With the cancellation of the peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines last year after the former cited insincere response to their goodwill for a peace negotiation, the latter has stepped up attacks.
With this, the President advises the security forces to be always on alert and leave no chance for the enemy to launch attacks against military and police.
The name of the notorious hit squad resurfaced after a Davao police identified as Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Bansag Garol Jr. was killed by the NPA after succumbing to several gunshot wounds in different parts of his body November of last year. The suspects also carted away his motorcycle and service firearms and sped to an unknown direction.
Garol was assigned in Baguio Police Station.
The following month, the suspect behind Garol’s killing was found dead with a lone gunshot wound at Purok 4-A Barangay Pangyan, Calinan District, Davao City.
He was identified as Bernardo Martos Clarion Jr. alias “Manoy and Long-Long”, single, 24, and a resident of Purok 4 Battalion, New Carmen, Tugbok District, Davao City.
Authorities recovered eight pieces of 5.56 fired cartridge cases, one sling bag containing an ID card and one unit of Glock 17 9mm pistol, chamber loaded with magazine containing 17 live ammunition with Serial Number 35314.
The firearm was similar to the one that was taken from Garol.
Authorities confirmed Garol’s slay was initiated by the NPA based on their intelligence monitoring.
Based on Clarion’s neighbors, he was allegedly a member of the terrorist group and has planned on surrendering to the authorities but he was killed by his fellows.
On one hand, Police Regional Office (PRO) director Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan had already instructed his subordinates to be extra careful considering that Davao Region has a high presence of communist guerillas.