Army raises alert in Agusan del Sur, activates AFP-PNP Critical Incident Management

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 16): Army raises alert in Agusan del Sur, activates AFP-PNP Critical Incident Management 

The Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) has implemented an Alert Level 3 and activated the Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines – Philippine National Police (AFP-PNP) Critical Incident Management Task Group as hot pursuit operations continue to track down New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who attacked the gold processing plant of a tribal chieftain in Prosperidad town, Agusan del Sur.

The alert status and activation of the AFP-PNP Joint Critical Incident Management complements the activation of the local government’s Crisis Management Committee headed by Prosperidad Mayor Alvin Magdamit.

EastMinCom spokesperson Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza presented the incident report and the measures taken by the AFP, PNP and the local government leadership during the AFP-PNP press corps forum at Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, following the Tuesday incident when about 70 NPA rebels attacked the mining area of Datu Calpito “Calpit” Egua in Barangay Irene, Prosperidad town.

The attack was successfully repelled by the Calpit’s tribal community guards “Bagani”. Responding army troops of the 401st Infantry Brigade and Agusan Provincial Police Office encountered the withdrawing rebels in Hamugaway, Prosperidad and Bayugan, San Francisco town leaving 13 rebels; four IPs and one soldier dead.

Paniza said that aside from follow-up operations, the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) is already in the area to investigate for case build-up and filing of appropriate cases against the perpetrators. He said the LGU is also conducting profiling of the victims.

PNP 13 Deputy Regional Director for Operations PS/Supt. Pedro Obaldo, Jr. identified the casualty from the NPA as a certain Joseph Tahora Kainog, who is the secretary of NPA Guerilla Front 8.

On the reported delay of response to the incident, Paniza said it was difficult situation because they have to ensure the safety of the civilians inside buses which were flagged down to use as road block along the highway.

Obaldo corrected misimpression that the “Bagani” tribal guards are private armies, saying “Calpit being the tribal chieftain and grantee of the Certificate of the Ancestral Domain is entitled to maintain guards for his protection.” He added that it provided under the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) law; and, he is also entitled to own firearms.

Datu Calpit was reportedly targeted by the NPA four times since year 2000 after he left the organization.

PRO 13 spokesperson P/Supt Romualdo Bayting said Datu Calpit owns 15 licensed firearms. He said six members of Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA) are also worked for him as tribal guards when they are off duty.

Bayting said the CAA members were inside the residence compound during the incident. Datu Calpit was also wounded in the two-hour firefight and recovery of four (4) M16 and four AK-47 rifles from the NPA. The responding AFP troops suffered 1 killed and 1 wounded.

Datu Calpit is a Tribal Chieftain and a holder of Comprehensive Ancestral Domain Title in Barangay La Purisima, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=663249