9 police commandos killed by NPA landmine

TUGUEGARAO CIT , Philippines – Nine police commandos training under the Special Action Force (SAF) were killed following an ambush staged by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a remote village in Cagayan’s Allacapan town yesterday.

Cagayan police director Senior Superintendent Gregorio Lim said the SAF vehicle hit a landmine planted along the road. Six other policemen were in critical condition.

The explosion was followed by a volley of gunfire from around 30 communist guerrillas.

The fatalities were PO3 Vladimir Tabajero, PO2 Dexter Cubilla, PO1 Erick Brioso, PO2 Angelbert Mateo, PO2 Elmark Rodney Pinated, PO1 Jerome Sanchez, PO2 Jonnel Bowat, PO2 Ronald Castulo and a certain P02 Dalauidao.

Wounded were PO2 Ronald Gomez, PO1 Ephraim Dolete, PO2 Geopano Adangui, PO1 Ryan Asunio, PO2 Ricky Monay, and PO2 Jeofrey Liagao Amiligan.

The Cagayan provincial police office said the ambush site is about two kilometers from the Allacapan police station.

Lim said the casualties all bore multiple gunshot wounds apart from the injuries sustained from the landmine blast.

“They mercilessly butchered my men,” Cagayan Valley police director Chief Superintendent Rodrigo de Gracia told The STAR.

De Gracia said the ill-fated unit was en route to a hospital for regular medical tests.

“The troopers were given no chance to fight back. They were immediately peppered with bullets as soon as they lay wounded after the landmine blast,” De Gracia said.

The SAF is an elite police unit trained in counter-insurgency tactics that is typically involved in security operations against communist rebels.

“The government is doing all it can to offer peace but the rebels choose to respond with treachery,” De Gracia said.

The wounded policemen managed to escape on foot and were rescued by government troops near the Ballesteros Municipal Hospital where they were brought for medical treatment.

They were set to be transferred to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City yesterday.

Joint Army and police troops are now pursuing the NPA rebels, who reportedly retreated toward the hinterlands after carting away their victims’ firearms and personal belongings.      

The attackers were reportedly from the Danilo Bien Command, the NPA group in Cagayan.

Also yesterday, military reports said one minor was wounded while one communist rebel was captured in the clash between Army soldiers and members of the NPA in Real, Quezon last Sunday.

Reports said members of the 1st Battalion were verifying reports about the presence of armed men in Barangay Llavac when they encountered the rebels at about 7 a.m.

A 15-minute clash ensued between the soldiers and about eight NPA members led by a certain Vergel.

“The rebels, sensing imminent defeat, withdrew and cowardly left behind one wounded comrade, leading to his apprehension,” said Lt. Col. Neil Estrella, spokesman for the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command.

The captured rebel, identified as Roger Guarde, was immediately evacuated and is now recovering in a local hospital.

A 15-year-old civilian identified as Ferdinand Sayno was wounded in the crossfire. He was immediately evacuated to a local hospital and is now in stable condition.

Soldiers recovered an M16 rifle, 14 pieces of 40 mm high explosive grenade for M203 grenade launcher, a magazine loaded with 20 live rounds for M14 rifle and NPA documents from the encounter site.

Estrella said pursuit operations are now being conducted against the rebels. – With Teddy Molina, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Alexis Romero, AP