NPAs raid Bukidnon police station, seize guns, bullets

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected communist rebels raided on Tuesday a police station in Malitbog, Bukidnon, carting away a dozen firearms, various ammunition and police uniforms.

Maj. Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA) raided the Malitbog municipal police station at around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. 

Osias said the armed men were led by a certain Lino Namatidong, alias Dahun, and carted away eight M-16 rifles, three 9-mm pistols, a 357 magnum, police uniforms, pistol rigs, and the personal belongings of the policemen.

The attackers, numbering around 30, arrived onboard a Toyota Lite Ace and a truck.   

“The incident happened so fast,” Osias said.

He said the suspected rebels also seized three policemen, who were merely identified as Inspector Janio, SPO1 De la Rosa, and SPO1 Parenio, but released them later.

“Upon reaching about 200 meters away from the police station, (the three policemen) were released (within the) vicinity of Sitio Villa Manga in Barangay Kalingking,” Osias said.  

He said some of the attackers headed toward Barangay Mindagat and then to Barangay Kiabo before escaping to Claveria, Misamis Oriental.  

“Other members of the group fled on foot somewhere in the vicinity of Sitio Tuganay, Barangay Kiabo,” he said.

Osias said Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, commander of the 4th ID, has ordered his men to pursue the armed group.

“The NPA members are targeting soft targets. We consider the Malitbog station a soft target because it has few personnel,” Osias said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo yesterday relieved Bukidnon provincial director Senior Superintendent Cris Rey Gonzalado and Malitbog police chief Senior Inspector Alexander Eugenio for failing to prevent the attack. 

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said Bacalzo also directed a full-dress investigation into the attack. – With Edith Regalado, Cecille Suerte Felipe