Provinces around MM on alert against NPAs
CAMP CRAME, Quezon City/ CAMP GERONIMO, Rizal — Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered yesterday all elite police units to intensify the combat operations against the communist rebels in all the provinces surrounding Metro Manila.
“This order is in relation to the ambush carried out against our SAF (Special Action Force) in Antipolo City,” said Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, PNP spokesman, adding that the PNP Chief also ordered close coordination with the military to further improve the combat operations against the rebels.
During the ambush, six SAF commandos were wounded as the vehicle they were on was strafed in Barangay San Jose on Sunday morning.
Bulalacao also clarified that there are no missing SAF commandos after the ambush. “All the SAF personnel are fully accounted for, including their firearms,” said Bulalacao, quoting a report from the SAF Director Noli Talino.
Major General Rhoderick Parayno, commander of the Army’s Second Infantry Division (2ID), said that two of the reported missing SAF members were already rescued by government forces under the army’s 80th Infantry Battalion.
Hit by bullets were PO2 Brendo Carino, PO2 Reymar Guevarra, PO2 Mark Andrew Bwela, and PO2 Joseph Alberca. PO2 Gran Omines and PO2 Ryan Gonzales sustained bruises and wounds as a result of the attack in the remote sitio of San Joseph in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City.
In the website, the Philippine Revolution Web Central, believed to be managed by the communists, a certain Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesperson of the NPASouthern Tagalog (Melito Glor Command) in a press statement, congratulated the Rizal-based rebels for the attack.
The entire Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) has since been on heightened alert, said Supt. Ruben Piquero, PPO deputy director.
5 NPAs arrested Meanwhile, at least five New People’s Army (NPA), including the leader of training specialist of the rebel group’s demolition and explosive team, were captured in a raid by government forces in Cabisera 17-21, Barangay San Antonio, Ilagan City, Isabela.
Sr. Supt. John Cornelius A. Jambora, Isabela PPO director, identified thosee captured as Mauricio Sagun, aliases “Raul” and “Johny,” of San Mariano, Isabela, alleged training leader; Mario Turqueza, 65; Ariel Peñaflor, 48; Bernard Peñaflor, 21; and Maximiñano Domingo, 44.
3 Reds surrender Meanwhile in Camp Aquino, Tarlac, the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) reported the surrender of three NPA guerrillas to government forces in Ilocos Sur last Sunday.
Lt. Col Isagani Nato, Nolcom public information officer identified the surrenderers as Joel Tayan Sabino, alias “Ben,” 48, of the NPA’s Begnalen Command; and Judith Balingsat Dumalig alias “Maya,” 49, and Jayson Batuli Catriz, alias “Mayo,” both of the Milisyang Bayan (MB) utilized by Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) Montes operating in Tubo, Abra. (With reports from Danny J. Estacio, Liezle Basa Iñigo, Franco G. Regala, and Mar T. Supnad)