BUTUAN CITY – Communist rebels disguised as soldiers attacked a southern Philippine police station, wounding two officers, looting weapons from the post and prompting officials to suspend the remaining force for negligence, police said yesterday.
At least 20 government-owned firearms and ammunitions were carted away by raiding communist rebels aboard three dump trucks, a pick-up and a van that attacked the Cantilan Municipal Police Station past 1 p.m. Sunday, military reports said.
Col. Jose Vizcarra, 401st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army commanding officer identified the two cops wounded in the NPA attack as SPO2 Quirino Liquido who sustained gunshot wounds at the back and P02 Arvin Arreza who also sustained gunshot wound at the forearm.
The military said the more than 200 NPA rebels practically surrounded Cantilan poblacion as some went to the Cantilan police station located beside the Cantilan Municipal Hall and there ransacked everything bringing all along with them some 15 M-16 Armalite rifles, three shotguns, one 9mm pistol and one .38 caliber pistol.
The rebels also carted away one test radio after it they opened the locker of the said police office.
Police said some of their colleagues were having their lunch but concerned civilians said it was already past 1 p.m. and most of the cops who have just finished their lunch have taken an afternoon nap when the rebels went inside the police station. – Ben Serrano, AP