Ridiculous, police say of claims they were behind Good Friday attack in Caraga

From InterAksyon (Apr 4): Ridiculous, police say of claims they were behind Good Friday attack in Caraga

This was the remark of police in northeastern Mindanao after armed communist rebels "fabricated" stories indicating that government forces were behind a Good Friday attack that killed two militiamen in Butuan City.

Police in the five-province Caraga region flatly denied allegations that the attack was a "grand design" by both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Caraga police director Chief Superintendent Leo Napenas, who called the accusation ridiculous, also scored the New People's Army declaring a truce last Thursday night but breaking it hours after.

On the early morning of Good Friday, March 29, alleged NPA rebels attacked devotees of Panaad 2013 conducting Stations of the Cross in Sitio Iyao, Anticala, Butuan City. Troops from the 3rd Special Forces were providing perimeter security while troops from the 13th Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of local police were providing inner security.

Attackers, which were composed of men and women, killed militiaman Ariel Andohoyan and Ernie Darasin on the spot.

Members of the RPSB were occupying the southeast direction of the third station and were not able to see the victims.

Based on investigation of SOCO, a "third party" was present apart from government forces based on evidence recovered and bullet trajectories.

Napenas said although there was a "probability" of misencounter, he said police and soldiers recognized each other through signals and passwords.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/58668/ridiculous-police-say-of-claims-they-were-behind-good-friday-attack-in-caraga