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SOLDIERS and policemen running after members of the New
People’s Army who attacked two towns on Siargao Island,
Surigao del Norte, over the weekend have killed 15
rebels and captured 12 others.
The
Army said its troops, along with Air Force personnel
and policemen, are still engaging the escaping rebels in
a sporadic fighting as of Monday in the province.
The
massive pursuit operations are being undertaken by the
combined forces of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID)
under Brig. Gen. Ricardo David Jr., the Air Force and
members of the Provincial Police Mobile Group-13.
On
Saturday evening bands of rebels simultaneously
attacked the police stations and local government
offices of Dapa and General Luna towns on Siargao
Island, Surigao del Norte, wounding at least six
policemen and taking some firearms.
While
policemen manning the police station in General Luna
managed to engage the rebels in a firefight before being
overrun as they are outnumbered, their colleagues from
Dapa yielded without putting up a fight.
The
National Police chief, Director General Avelino Razon
Jr., ordered an investigation of the Dapa police station
as he wanted to know why its members did not put up any
resistance.
He
also ordered the National Police to look into its
“defensive posture plan” in his effort to avoid a repeat
of the incident.
Likewise, Razon sent Special Action Force troopers to
Mindanao and the Visayas, to help in the government’s
anti-insurgency campaign in those areas.
Lt.
Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Army spokesman, said the 15
rebels were killed on Monday by troops from the 30th
Infantry Battalion, under Lt. Col. Cristobal Zaragoza,
intelligence agents and policemen.
He
said the fleeing rebels are trapped in the adjoining
Lapingan Island and were being engaged by government
forces.
About
20 rebels attacked the Dapa police station at about
10:30 p.m. on Saturday and took three M-16 rifles.
They
also reportedly ransacked the fire station, the water
district office, Public Attorney’s Office, Social
Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Municipal
Trial Court and PhilHealth, taking away appliances,
computers and other valuables.
Another group of rebels stormed the General Luna police
station, overpowered its members after a firefight and
took an M-16 rifle.
Learning of the attacks, Zaragoza dispatched three
platoons of soldiers who pursued the rebels.
David
also dispatched helicopters from Tactical Operation
Groups 10 and 11, which provided air cover to the
soldiers.
On the
following day, combined forces of the 4th ID, Air Force
and PRO-13 intercepted the escaping rebels at barangay
Panatao in Claver. The rebels were with 30 comrades from
another group and were onboard two pump boats. Brawner
said on members of both groups aborted their landing at
barangay Panatao and instead proceeded on Lapinigan
Island, which is about 1.5 kilometers away from
barangay Panatao. |
