PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -– Col. Andrei Costales, commanding officer of the 3rd Marine Brigade in Palawan, confirmed to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that two armed men believed to be members of the leftist New People’s Army (NPA) attacked a Marine detachment in Barangay Tagabenit in this city, but failed to injure anyone.
Costales said at around 9:00 a.m. Thursday, two armed men fired five shots at the detachment of the 34th Marine Company under the 4th Marine Battalion Landing Team (4th MBLT).
Witnesses whom he did not identify reportedly said that when the troops fired back, the two men were seen fleeing the area in a hurry.
“Categorically, we’re not saying they are already members of the NPA because were are still conducting our investigation. But if you remember, their anniversary is this March so there is a possibility that they stage something like this,” Costales said. The NPA was formed on March 29, 1969.
Tagabenit, which is adjacent to Barangay Cabayugan, the home of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), is also a popular tourist site in the city because of the Ugong Rock promontory and the zipline outdoor adventure it offers.
The brigade commander said they are very cautious not to categorically conclude that the NPAs staged the attack. However, it is also possible that it was carried out so the pocket force of the leftist movement in the province can show that it is still strong.
Costales said none of the Marines who were in the detachment were injured as it is very hard to see them even from any advantageous position. This is because the detachment is hidden from view by thick shrubs and bushes.
Empty shells of M16 were found from the area where the two armed men reportedly fled, said Costales.
As a result, both police and Marines authorities are now on heightened alert in Tagabenit and other areas where the NPA may reportedly strike in lieu of its upcoming founding anniversary.
He also said that they are investigating the possibility that the two are not really members of the NPA, but maybe related to two individuals who were arrested last year for illegal possession of firearms in the same barangay.
“Maybe gusto lang gumanti ng mga iyon, at ito ang isa sa angulo na iniimbestigahan pa din namin kasama ng police (Maybe they just wanted to retaliate, and this is also one of the angles we are investigating with the City Police Office),” he explained.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=507293
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