CHR to probe ambush of police in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – The Commission on Human Rights in the Cordillera  said it would look into violations of rights of policemen ambushed by communist rebels in sitio Kabunagan, Poblacion Tadian in Mt. Province Friday.

The CHR-Cordillera called on the CPP-NPA-NDF “to comply with the principles and standards of international humanitarian law and other human rights instruments which they are party.”

One police officer was killed and nine others were injured during the ambush, where the Mt. Province-based Leonardo Pacsi Command of the NPA has been criticized owing to its atrocious attack.

The attack, which was hailed by the CPP leadership as a victory, said lawyer Harold Kub-aron, regional officer of the CHR-Cordillera said, “is a sheer act of poltroonery of the perpetrators.”

He  said the attack was senseless  because the police personnel were merely jogging, unarmed and in athletic uniform when it took place.

Cordillera Peoples Democratic Front (CPDF) spokesperson Simon Naogsan however maintained that they attacked the armed contingent of the “jogging policemen” where they even carted away  14 high powered firearms (11 M16s, 3 M14s).

Kub-aron said  CHR investigators will conduct an independent investigation into the incident.

Kub-aron said after their investigation, they will make their appropriate recommendations.

Meantime, Cordillera police spokesperson Supt. Davvy Limmong belied the report by correspondents in Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan that another police trainee-victim had died at the hospital.


Police Inspector Millenium Bantas has already been discharged from the Luis Hora Hospital in Bauko, Mt. Province while Police Officers Jefferson Sari, Jasmin Salve and Eveson Waguis were also discharged from the same hospital while Police Officers Daketan Pawas, Michelle Maludon, Ruben Benito and Alexander Dulnuan are recovering from wounds sustained during the ambush. - Artemio A. Dumlao