N. Cotabato cops foil NPA attack

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – Policemen foiled an attempt by as many as 100 communist rebels before dawn yesterday to take over the town hall of President Roxas here, killing three guerrillas and forcing the rest to hastily retreat carrying their wounded companions.

The police chief of President Roxas, Senior Inspector Bernabe Rubio, was wounded in the ensuing firefight.

The New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas arrived at the municipal hall compound at around 3:30 a.m. aboard cargo trucks they had commandeered and attempted to enter the area, but failed when Rubio and his men engaged them in a firefight. 

Though outnumbered, the policemen managed to put up a tough defense by positioning themselves on the second floor of the building, giving them a good view of the rebels approaching from different directions.

Three guerrillas were killed in the initial exchange of gunfire. Their bodies were retrieved after the firefight. 

The insurgents retreated to different directions after seeing their three comrades felled by M-16 bullets.

Villagers said at least 10 rebels, including five adolescents, were wounded in the gunbattle. 

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas took pride in the courage of the town’s 14 policemen who fought it out with the rebels.

“I commend the President Roxas municipal police for gallantry in action. I note with great pride that the policemen were able to repulse more than 100 (NPA) members,” he said.

“Clearly, they underestimated the readiness and dedication to duty of the outnumbered government forces,” he added.

The NPA’s three guerrilla fronts in North Cotabato earlier had threatened to attack the town proper of President Roxas and burn down the municipal hall after its mayor, Jaime Mahimpit, refused to shell out “protection money” on a monthly basis. 

Mahimpit and his three police escorts were wounded in an NPA roadside bombing two months ago as they were on their way to a road project in a remote barangay. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Edith Regalado