Security forces cordon off the site in Tadian, Mountain Province, where NPA rebels ambushed 100 police trainees who were jogging FRiday. PHOTO COURTESY OF CORDILLERA REGIONAL POLICE FORCE
Ten police trainees earlier feared abducted by New People's Army guerrillas who ambushed some 100 of them as they did their morning exercises in
“Ten of our trainees are still missing,” Senior Superintendent Oliver Alilis Emmodias, head of the regional police's regional operations and plans division, said earlier but declained to confirm earlier reports saying they had been taken hostage by the rebels.
In a text message early Friday evening, Emmodias said, “Accounted na [sila].” He, however, could not immediately give the names of the 10 officers.
Cordillera regional police spokesman Senior Superintendent Dave Limmong said the 120 trainees, 70 of them women, were undergoing PNP Scout training and were unarmed when they were ambushed around 5:45 a.m.
”Our policemen were on a scout training. They were unarmed when attacked. They were jogging, after which they were scheduled to eat their breakfast. We deplore the premeditated and treacherous act. The rebels should know that the persons they were attacking are their co-residents in the Cordillera region,” Limmong said.
He identified the fatality as Police Officer 1 Denver Balabag.
Wounded were Inspector Melenium Bantas, PO1s Alex Dulnuan, Pawas Daketan, Junette Ngalawen, Jasmin Salve,Mitchell Malubon,Robin Benito, Jefferson Sari, Edison Waguis, Pawas Daketan and Robin Benito.
All the wounded personnel were brought to the
But Waguis, who was rescued by responding government forces, was transferred to the
Vice President Jejomar Binay deplored the attack.
“I strongly condemn this treacherous attack. The victims were not armed and were jogging. Most importantly, they were just trainees,” Binay said. "Those behind this attack should be brought to justice."
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II called the attack "shocking and senseless since it was carried out without any provocation.”
Tadian used to be known as among the most peaceful towns in the
There had been no rebel sightings in the town recently, one of the reasons it was chosen for the police training course.
"For many years, we have had no ambushes in this area. The area is secured by the army and our patrols and we were near the town center so we did not expect this attack," Limmong said.
The attack comes soon after NPA fighters kidnapped five unarmed soldiers in
The ambush was the third deadliest so far conducted by the NPA against the National Police (PNP) since January 2013. The first attack in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, killed a policeman and 7 civilians. A month ago, seven members of the PNP Special Action Force were killed in a land mine blast in Allacapan, Cagayan province. The police officers were on their way to undergo an electrocardiography or ECG procedure when they were attacked.
And just before the May 13 elections, communist rebels seriously wounded Gingoog Mayor Ruthie Guingona in an ambush in which her bodyguard died.
They also killed five timber plantation workers in a raid in the south on June 18.
The NPA has been waging a 44-year Maoist campaign that has claimed at least 30,000 lives. The military estimates the guerrillas' ranks at about 4,000 fighters.
President Benigno Aquino III opened peace talks aimed at ending the communist insurgency before his term expires in 2016 but the negotiations collapsed allegedly over communist demands.
Alex Padilla, the chief government negotiator with the communists, resigned earlier this month, citing his frustration with the stalled talks.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/65120/10-pnp-trainees-found-hours-after-npa-rebels-ambush-jogging-cops-killing-1
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