2 SAF commanders sacked over NPA attack

MANILA, Philippines - Two ranking officers of the elite police Special Action Force (SAF) were relieved from their posts after an attack by New People’s Army (NPA) gunmen left eight policemen dead and seven others wounded in Allacapan, Cagayan last Monday.

Relieved were Superintendent Dante Lobos, commander of the SAF’s 2nd Special Action Battalion, and Senior Inspector Ronnie Albino, head of the 24th Special Action Company.

SAF chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said the relief of Lobos and Albino would pave the way for a thorough investigation on the attack last May 27, where the rebels detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the roadside.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II assured the families of the slain policemen that their benefits would be immediately released.

“We strongly condemn this attack because it is a kind of savagery that has no place in our society,” Roxas added.

Roxas said each family will receive P250,000 from the President’s Social Fund.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo said the families of the slain policemen would each receive between P1.5 million and P2 million aside from the estimated P15,000 monthly pension from the PNP and roughly the same amount for five years from the National Police Commission.

Roxas also promised full medical benefits of P170,00 each to the seven wounded police officers.

Senior Superintendent Gregorio Lim, director of the Cagayan provincial police, said police and military units have continued pursuit operations against the rebels belonging to the NPA’s Danilo Ben command.

Investigators are verifying reports that a female commander identified as Ka Celia led rebels in the Allacapan ambush.

Police said the rebels distributed flyers after the attack, stating the armed struggle should be pursued.

Cerbo maintained the attack will strengthen the resolve of the PNP to further intensify the campaign against insurgents.

Cagayan Police spokesman Inspector Cesar Orlanes said 11 high-powered rifles and seven short firearms were taken by the rebels from the slain SAF members after the attacks.

Cerbo noted that the rebels ambushed the policemen who were on their way to Allacapan station for their bi-annual physical fitness examination.

“They were on their way to non-combat mission. We condemn the manner of the attack, using bomb and the area of attack was also being used by civilians,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, local police admitted there was a miscommunication over the number of policemen killed in the NPA attack.

Orlanes said one of the fatalities – Police Officer 2 Ronald Castulo – was apparently counted twice in the media report because he was taken first to Ballesteros District Hospital then transferred to another medical institution in Tuguegarao.

He noted that only eight and not nine SAF members were killed in the NPA attack.

The government peace panel negotiating with the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) condemned yesterday the killing of eight policemen and wounding of seven others in Allacapan, Cagayan.

“We strongly condemn the killing by the NPA of members of the PNP’s Special Action Force and wounding of others in the ambush by NPA guerrillas in Allacapan,” the government panel, headed by Alexander Padilla, said in a statement.

Padilla said the government panel grieves for the brave police officers and the other victims of the “unconscionable crime” committed by the NPA.

“We call on our government to pursue justice for those who have fallen victim to this senseless violence. We in the GPH panel vow to continue seeking avenues for talking peace that will result in the decrease or prevention of NPA atrocities,” Padilla said.

NDF consultant backs peace talks

NDF peace panel consultant Randy Felix Malayao said the escalation of hostilities between government forces and NPA rebels should not deter the two parties from pursuing peace.

“Peace must be pursued more than ever,” Malayao said.

He said peace should be advanced diligently even though it might seem difficult.

He said the peace talks should be resumed to seriously address the roots of this armed conflict.

“All government has to do is to reactivate the lines. The draft proposals have been submitted to them. The government is stalling the talks,” Malayao told The STAR.

Malayao said the government had dismissed the NPA as a mere police problem today in some provinces but recent incidents showed a resurgence of armed engagements in Kalinga and Cagayan that were previously declared as insurgency free areas.

He said that as long as sociopolitical problems remain prevalent and the roots of armed conflict are unresolved, peace will remain elusive.

Meanwhile, tribal leaders are expected to prosecute the NPA anew with the slaying of seven Cordillera natives who were among the policemen killed and wounded in Allacapan.

Most of the dead and wounded were natives of Kalinga and Apayao, according to a report from Cagayan police director Senior Superintendent Gregorio Lim.

Last week, Kalinga authorities reported that tribal elders of the local “Bodong” have resumed the prosecution of rebel leaders implicated in the killing of a soldier escorting Commission on Elections personnel delivering the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine in Tabuk City, Kalinga two days before the May 13 elections.

– With Jose Rodel Clapano, Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca