NPA plot to raid 15 Iloilo police stations exposed

IL OIL O City–New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were planning to attack the police stations of 15 towns, according to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

The information came from residents of hinterland bar an gays, said Chief Inspector Aron Palomo, IPPO

spokesperson.

The police stations of the following towns have been put on red alert: San Joaquin, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tubungan, Igbaras, Alimodian, Leon, Calinog, Maasin, Bingawan, Badiangan, San Enrique, Passi City, San Rafael, and Lemery.

Mountainous vill ages of these towns were rebel- infested, said Palomo.

The police chiefs of the 15 towns were instructed to never leave their stations unmanned.

“Our men are ready to engage the rebels,” said Palomo. “We are coordinating with barangay officials to get information on suspicious groups in their turfs.”

J ust this Saturday, the government negotiating panel pulled out from the fifth round of talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NDFP).

In a statement, Ilonggo Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus

Dureza cited several reasons. One of these was CPP’s order to the NPA, it s armed wing, to accelerate attacks against the government nationwide following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Dureza described CPP’s order as a “defiant, blatant and serious challenge” to the government.

According to Palomo, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division ( 3ID) assured the police of help.

“The community has a big role in our fight against the insurgency. It is our source of information on the rebels’ movements,” said Lieutenant Colonel Arnel Cabugon, 3ID spokesperson.

The towns of San Joaquin, Guimbal, Miag-ao, Tubungan, and Igbaras are in the 1st District while Alimodian and Leon are in the 2nd District.

The municipalities of Calinog, Maasin, Bingawan, and

Badiangan are in the 3rd District while San Enrique and Passi City are in the 4th District.

San Rafael and Lemery, on the other hand, are in the 5th District.

Over 60 NPA rebels stormed the police station of Tubungan and its town hall in June 2004. Eight policemen and about 50 municipal employees were held hostage. The attack caught Tubungan policemen by surprise. The rebels took their guns and before leaving, they left two red flags at the front door of the town hall signifying their successful attack.

In announcing the government’s pullout from the peace talks, Dureza also cited the public admission of some peace panel members of the CPP-NDFP that they have no control over their NPA forces on the ground.

He mentioned, too, the erosion of public support to the peace talks, and the clamor to pursue localized peace negotiations instead./