MANILA, Philippines - A New People’s Army rebel was killed while a police officer was wounded when some 200 suspected NPA rebels raided the Hinabangan police station in Samar yesterday morning.
The NPA attack was the first under the leadership of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Nicanor Bartolome, who assumed office last Friday.
“While the attack was ongoing, I was in constant touch with Eastern Visayas regional director Chief Superintendent Arnold Revilla. Our nine PNP personnel in the station put up a strong defense and a good fight until the arrival of reinforcements,” Bartolome said.
Revilla identified the fatality as Mariano Abarcoso, a former member of the Integrated National Police, who joined the communist movement.
He said the wounded police officer, PO1 Allan Pagangpang, suffered minor splinters on his fingers.
Initial investigation showed that the rebels fired at the police station, prompting the nine PNP personnel, who were on duty at the time of the attack, to retaliate, triggering a firefight that lasted 30 minutes.
Though outnumbered, the policemen maneuvered to a rallying point at the back of Hinabangan municipal building and launched a counter-assault.
When the rebels started entering the compound of the municipal hall the policemen opened fire. The rebels were forced to withdraw towards the southwest.
Revilla said the attack put to question the sincerity of communist rebels in resuming peace negotiations with the government.
He said the attack was also a clear manifestation of the communist’s objective of disrupting the delivery of police services to the people by sabotaging government facilities.
“These deplorable acts not only constitute violations of our local laws, they also target non-combatants in the conduct of armed conflict,” Revilla said.
Bartolome meanwhile said all PNP units were instructed to undertake precautionary measures and strengthen their defense for more possible NPA attacks.
“We shall strengthen some more our defense system and provide our field personnel with the necessary equipage to better address the situation on the ground,” he said. – With Jaime Laude