18 armed men sow terror in retired U.S. Army soldier’s home in Palawan

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 24): 18 armed men sow terror in retired U.S. Army soldier’s home in Palawan

Police and military authorities in Palawan are currently on full alert to find 18 armed men, who allegedly barged into the house Wednesday of a retired U.S. Army in Brooke’s Point town, and who reportedly threatened to launch attacks on municipal police stations in the southern part of the province.

The armed men, who reportedly introduced themselves as members of the New People’s Army (NPA), barged into the home of 78-yr. old retired U.S. Army soldier Bob Violett located in Barangay Maasin, Brooke’s Point in southern Palawan and threatened to hurt him and his family.

Provincial Police Office Senior Superintendent David Martinez said the armed men were supposed to rent a van that belonged to Violett, but when they learned that it was not there, they ransacked his home and took away valuables.

The NPA members carted away at around 6:00 a.m. a .45 caliber gun, light vision goggles, Swiss knives, cellular phones, and other appliances. They escaped towards the mountainous areas of Maasin.

Martinez told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that of the 18, two were women.

“More or less, they came around six in the morning in Maasin; they forced themselves into the house of Mr. Violett, a 78-year old retired U.S. Army, and his wife,” he said.

Allegedly, the armed suspects introduced themselves as members of the Philippine Army (PA) just wanting to rent his van to go to Puerto Princesa.

“They were supposed to rent his van to go to Puerto Princesa, but when they came and they did not see the van, they proceeded to violate his home,” Martinez added.

With troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12 (MBLT), Martinez said they immediately raised all municipal police stations to full alert, and pursuit operations to prevent the armed men from scattering to hide in different areas in southern Palawan.

Martinez is calling on residents of southern Palawan to be vigilant against any large group moving together from one place to another and immediately report to authorities where they are seen.

Confirming that the NPA has earlier threatened too, to launch attacks against municipal police stations, particularly in southern Palawan, Martinez said they are “prepared and has always been.”

“Right now, we continue to monitor southern Palawan, and we are always prepared even if they did not make any threat,” he said, requesting for residents of southern Palawan to cooperate with them considering that the NPA has also threatened to attack vital installations in the south.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=608992