Intelligence lapses blamed for Cagayan ambush

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – A Malacañang official yesterday blamed “intelligence lapses” for last Monday’s ambush of eight policemen in Cagayan.

Presidential Legislative Liaison Manuel Mamba said the regional police apparently lacked community relations and coordination with local government units in the province that caught authorities unaware of the surge of attacks by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Allacapan town.

Eight operatives of the elite police Special Action Force (SAF) were killed by a roadside improvised explosive device set up by the NPA in the village of Cataratan, Allacapan on Monday.

The rebels earlier torched a gasoline tanker owned by Jennifer Masangcay when she reportedly refused to pay revolutionary taxes to the NPA.

The NPA also raided the warehouse owned by Aurelio Abraham in Immurung, Baggao on April 25.

On May 9, the rebels burned down two backhoes of a construction firm in Bangkiling, Aparri. 

Police admitted the incidents revealed the increasing extortion activities of the NPA in the province.

Cagayan Police director Senior Superintendent Gregorio Lim said there would be investigations to determine if there were lapses in intelligence gathering that could have prevented the rebel attacks.

Mamba said he would support the investigation on the incident.  

This developed as two ranking police officials were relieved following the attack.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. took exception to allegations that the police were doing nothing.

“It’s wrong to say the PNP is not doing anything. Shortly after the ambush, we have sent our investigators and they are now in the process of getting witnesses and evidence,” Cerbo said.

He said the PNP is preparing to file charges against the NPA gunmen involved in the attack last Monday.

“We have to be careful in the filing of charges and we don’t impose any timetable. The instruction was to be careful and ensure an airtight case will be filed against the rebels,” he said.

Cerbo pointed out the focus of the PNP is the safety of the wounded policemen, the filing of charges and the operations against the rebels. – With Charlie Lagasca, Marvin Sy